Earlier this month, the New York Times revealed several changes in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' process of reviewing documentaries for Oscar consideration. The most notable change being that, a movie must be reviewed by either the New York Times or the Los Angeles Times in order to qualify for consideration. The reason for this new rule appears to be an attempt to narrow an ever growing field of submissions. The Academy’s documentary branch reviewed 124 films in 2011, a 23% increase from the previous year. Additionally the Academy has indicated that they are trying to eliminate documentaries intended for television, which can qualify for Academy consideration through small theatrical releases. Other policy changes revealed by the New York Times include:
