The 82nd Academy Awards, which will be presented on 7 March, 2010, will have 10 feature films competing in the Best Picture category, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis announced on Wednesday. The number of nominees in other major categories will remain at five.

The regulation of 10 films in competition for Best Picture is not a brand new addition to the Academy’s function, the President noted. It was first seen at the Oscars in the year 1939 where the 10 nominees included some of the world’s most celebrated films such as Gone With the Wind, Dark Victory, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Love Affair, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ninotchka, Of Mice and Men, Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz and Wuthering Heights.

“Having 10 best picture nominees is going to allow academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,” Ganis said.

The last time the Best Picture field had 10 nominations was in 1943, when Casablanca took home the Best Picture Oscar.

Nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards will be announced 2 February, 2010.