Academy changes rule on producers' Oscar

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 14 (UPI) -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif., has amended its rule on the number of producers who can win Oscars for a best picture.

The academy will still limit the number of Oscar-worthy producers to three per picture, but will allow for exceptions in the future in "rare and extraordinary circumstances," officials said in a news release Wednesday.

The rule change was adopted on the recommendation of the Producers Branch Executive Committee, following a dust-up last year in connection with the number of producers who worked on the Oscar-nominated "Little Miss Sunshine" and "The Departed," which won for best picture.

Academy President Sid Ganis emphasized that exceptions to the three-producer rule will be rare.

"The committee and the governors believe strongly that it's very important to have a limit on the number of producers who can be nominated and potentially receive an Oscar statuette," said Ganis. "But we also recognize that a truly unique situation could arise, and we want to have just enough flexibility to allow for that rare occurrence."