'Avatar,' 'Trek,' 'Potter' among Oscar VFX seekers

(AP) — "Avatar," ''Star Trek," ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" are among seven films competing for the visual-effects Academy Award.

Also in the running are "District 9," ''Terminator Salvation" and "2012."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences visual-effects branch will view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven films on Jan. 21, then vote to choose three nominees that will compete at the March 7 Oscar show.

Nominees in all Oscar categories will be announced Feb. 2.