MUMBAI: The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' has shortlisted seven films for the visual effects Oscar this year.

The films in alphabetical order are Avatar, District 9, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, and 2012.

On 21 January all members of the Academy's visual effects branch will be invited to view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven films. Post this exercise, the members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on 2 February. The awards ceremony is scheduled on 7 March.