AWARDS WATCH | AMPAS Streamlines Oscar Doc Rules

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has changed the rules for qualification in the feature and short documentary categories at the 81st Academy Awards, eliminating the multi-city theatrical rollout requirement. "By eliminating the multi-city rollout requirements we have significantly simplified the Academy rules while still retaining the core intent to ensure that we honor nonfiction work created for theatrical distribution," said doc branch chair Michael Apted, in a statement. "We believe the new rules will successfully eliminate from consideration documentaries made principally for television, the Internet or anywhere else." The complete press release is available on indieWIRE Insider.