"Avatar," "Trek" Vie for Oscar VFX

"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."

"Avatar" Gets Blue-Carpet Debut

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.

Golden Globes: Complete List of Nominees
Photos: Golden Globe Nominees
Stars React to Golden Globes Nominations

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