The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is set to announce new rules this week for Oscar’s documentary category that will have far-reaching implications for the next year’s race. The biggest change is that in order for any film to qualify for the 2012-13 awards season, it must have been reviewed by either the Los Angeles Times or the New York Times, which reported the story on Sunday.

Los Angeles, December 11, 2011 – The American Film Institute (AFI) today announced the official selections of AFI AWARDS 2011 – the awards season event favored by artists and entertainment executives for its intimacy and collaborative recognition – that records the year’s most outstanding achievements in film, television and other forms of the moving image arts.

New York, NY – (December 1, 2011) – The National Board of Review has named HUGO the 2011 Best Film of the Year.  Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film was released on November 23 by Paramount Pictures.

“Buck,” “Project Nim” and “Paradise Lost” are among the 15 finalist documentary features in the category for the 84th Academy Awards.