Truly Moving Pictures

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that awards the Oscars every year, announced early this morning the nominees for the 2006 Academy Awards.

Heartland Truly Moving Pictures is proud to list several Truly Moving Pictures Award winners among the list of nominees. Most notably, The Queen garnered nods in a whopping six categories, including both Best Picture of the Year and Best Actress in a Leading Role.

The film, which follows the days following the death of Princess Diana, closed the 2006 Heartland Film Festival. Other nominations include Best Original Screenplay and Best Score, as well as Best Director for helmer Stephen Frears and Acheivement in Costume Design for Consolata Boyle, who attended the Closing Night Event in October.

Two of the three animated films nominated as Best Animated Feature of the Year are also Truly Moving Picture Award winners. Cars, about a hotshot racecar who learns that life is about more than winning, was a blockbuster hit in Summer 2006. Shortly thereafter, Happy Feet hit theaters, the story of a dancing penguin who learns to accept himself just as he is. Now, they're both in contention for an Oscar, Hollywood's top honor.

Actor Will Smith was recognized for his performance in The Pursuit of Happyness, a recent addition to The List, getting nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

One of the short films that screened at Heartland Film Festival this year, The Little Matchgirl (pictured left), earned high praise in its nomination for Best Animated Short Film. And actress Abigail Breslin, who stars in the Truly Moving Picture Award winner The Ultimate Gift, has become the fourth-youngest Oscar nominee in history, being named in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in Little Miss Sunshine.

The Academy Awards will be televised live from Hollywood on February 23, 2007. Check out the OSCARS online for a list of all the nominees and more information on the Awards.