Distributor makes Oscar plea for 'Bloody Sunday' film

The US distributor of the multi-award winning "Bloody Sunday" has asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to change its rules barring films shown on TV within six months of their theatre release from the Oscar competition.

Having been on both Irish and British television, the controversial film about the 1972 Derry shootings isn't allowed to be considered for the Oscar.

But producer Mark Redhead says: "It would be an incredible injustice if the film is barred. It would also be odd for one of the best-reviewed films of the year not to be included and have the possibility to be nominated."

The Academy's reply is that they try to avoid helping out on a picture's publicity campaign ... so they have no comment to make.