Beverly Hills, CA — Wednesday, October 1, is the deadline to submit entries in the Live Action Short Film, Animated Short Film and Foreign Language Film categories to be considered for the 81st Academy Awards®. Complete entries must arrive at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by 5 p.m. PT that day.

In the short film categories, filmmakers must submit an entry form, one film print or copy in an approved digital format, and all other required materials by the deadline.

In the Foreign Language Film category, filmmakers must submit entry forms, one English-subtitled film print and all other required materials by the deadline. Only one motion picture will be accepted from each country.

Complete 81st Academy Awards rules are available at http://www.oscars.org/81academyawards/rules/index.html.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting Awards Coordinator Torene Svitil via phone at (310) 247-3000, ext. 190, by fax at (310) 247-2600, or by e-mail at tsvitil@oscars.org.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide

Beverly Hills, CA – The annual online drawing for some of the most sought-after seats of the year is about to get underway. Beginning on Monday, September 22, at noon ET/9 a.m. PT, and continuing for only one week, fans may apply on Oscars.org to win seats on the Academy Awards(R) red carpet. There are only 300 seats available along the 500-foot-long walkway that leads into the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center(R).
The lucky winners will watch and cheer Oscar nominees, presenters and other ceremony guests as they arrive at the 81st Academy Awards on Sunday, February 22, 2009. Following the red carpet arrivals, the winners will be invited to watch the Academy Awards telecast at a
nearby location.
The application form will be available at www.oscars.org/bleachers. The online-only application process will close on Sunday, September 28, at 9 p.m. PT. To be eligible for the random drawing, an individual must complete the application form in its entirety. Applications may only be submitted
online. Forms may not be returned via U.S. mail, fax or private delivery service such as UPS or FedEx. Applicants may register up to four persons; however, only one form will be accepted per person or group. Those whose names are selected in the random drawing will be notified in early October. They will then be required to submit additional information for security purposes prior to final approval. Eligible attendees will receive a confirmation letter in early December with
information pertinent to the event.
Only those individuals who have been pre-approved by the Academy will have access to the bleachers. Those who wait overnight to attempt admittance will not be granted entry.
The Academy will not be responsible for securing travel and/or hotel accommodations for winners.
In previous years, as many as 20,000 fans have applied online for the limited number of bleacher seats. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center(R), and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.