WGA deems 'Speech,' 'Winter's Bone,' 'Toy Story 3' ineligible for awards consideration (VAR, TW)

By Nancy Tartaglione

The Writers Guild has unveiled its list of eligible films for this year's awards with just 76 making the cut. That figure is down seven from last year and reps less than half the total considered in 2008. Per Variety, the guild's restrictions, which require that scripts be produced under WGA jurisdiction and formally submitted for consideration, left several notable candidates out of the running. They include: "Blue Valentine," "The King's Speech," "Made in Dagenham," "Toy Story 3" and "Winter's Bone."

Last year, notes The Wrap, several of the highest-profile films in the Oscar race, including "Inglourious Basterds," "A Single Man," "An Education" and "District 9" were not eligible for WGA Awards.

The 2010 WGA ballot lists 43 screenplays in the original category and 33 in the adapted group.

Ballots must be cast no later than Monday and nominations will be announced Tuesday next week. The awards ceremonies will be held Feb. 5 in Los Angeles and New York.

Per Variety, the WGA ballot that has gone out to members noted that screenplays were no longer automatically deemed submitted for the Screenplay Awards, as had been the practice as recently as 2008.

"An entry form for each screenplay must have been submitted to the WGA for awards consideration," the ballot reads. "A theatrical motion picture must have been written under the WGA MBA or under a bona fide collective bargaining agreement of the Australian Writers Guild, Writers Guild of Canada, Writers Guild of Great Britain, Irish Playwrights & Screenwriters Guild or the New Zealand Writers Guild (collectively, 'affiliate guilds')."

Click here for a full list of the 76 eligible screenplays.