Updated Jan. 10, 2002.

The Academy’s visual effects branch has chosen eight films to compete at the FX “bakeoff” on Feb. 6, where teams will vie for three nominations for the Best Visual Effects Oscar.

The films and their credited lead effects supervisors and primary effects vendors include:

"A.I." (Warner Bros.) — Dennis Muren, Scott Farrar, Michael Lantieri, Stan Winston; Industrial Light & Magic

"Black Hawk Down" (Sony/Revolution) — Tim Burke, Neil Corbould; The Mill

"Cats & Dogs" (Warner Bros.) — Ed Jones, David Barclay; Rhythm & Hues

"The Fast and the Furious" (Universal) — Michael Wassel, Thad Beier, Syd Dutton, Matt Sweeney; Digiscope, Hammerhead Productions, Illusion Arts

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" (Warner Bros.) — Robert Legato, Nick Davis, Roger Guyett, John Richardson; Sony Pictures Imageworks (among others)

"Jurassic Park III" (Universal) — Stan Winston, John Rosengrant, Jim Mitchell, Donald Elliott, Dan Taylor; Industrial Light & Magic

"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (New Line) — Jim Rygiel, Richard Taylor, Alex Funke, Randall William Cook; Weta Digital

"Pearl Harbor" (Disney) — Eric Brevig, John Frazier, Ed Hirsch, Ben Snow; Industrial Light & Magic

This year’s slate reflects a balance between heavy computer-generated work and effects realized on set (stunts, pyrotechnics and practical effects). Several titles credit multiple facilities for different sequences — for example, "Harry Potter" lists numerous shops (including Rhythm & Hues, The Mill, Cinesite and ILM), and both Digital Domain and Rhythm & Hues contributed to "The Lord of the Rings."

Notable effects-driven releases that were passed over include Universal’s "The Mummy Returns" and Fox’s "Planet of the Apes," both of which featured ILM work.

Each nominated effects house will prepare a 15-minute reel drawn from the film and present it at the bakeoff. After the presentations, the visual effects award nominating committee of roughly 200 members will vote. Their decisions are guided by technical execution, creative application of existing tools, originality, and the degree to which the work advanced or pushed the boundaries of visual effects.

The three final nominees will be revealed on Feb. 12 alongside the rest of the Academy Award nominations.

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