'Iraq' filmmaker to go for Oscar gold

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Robert Greenwald has canceled a pay-per-view showing of his anti-Iraq War documentary to keep it eligible for an Oscar, Daily Variety said Monday.

In Demand had scheduled 12 showings of "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War," between Oct. 1 and Oct. 11. Variety said In Demand notified its cable-operator clients Friday it has dropped the documentary from its schedule "due to Academy Award considerations."

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rules prohibit consideration for documentaries that are televised within nine months of theatrical release. "Uncovered" was shown extensively through streaming video over the Internet earlier this year, but Greenwald has re-edited the movie to add more than 28 minutes of footage -- including scenes from the Iraq war zone.

"Uncovered" producers are waiting for word from the academy on whether the longer version is sufficiently different to merit Oscar consideration.

Michael Moore said recently he will not submit "Fahrenheit 9/11" for Oscar consideration, in hopes of arranging a telecast of his movie before Election Day. Variety said Sony, which has DVD distribution rights to "Fahrenheit 9/11," has so far denied permission for a telecast, to protect its interest in DVD reveues.