'Belfast', a semi-autobiographical film by Kenneth Branagh has been shortlisted in the Original Song category at the Academy Awards.
The song, 'Down To Joy' is performed by Van Morrison and plays over the opening credits of the movie.
The film is set in 1960's Belfast and stars Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds and Jude Hill.
There were originally 84 songs eligible from an initial list that has now been shortened to 15. Shortlists for ten categories for the awards were announced with Academy members now tasked with narrowing it down to the final nominations. The categories that were announced include Documentary Feature, International Film, Animated, Live Action, and Documentary Shorts, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music Score, Original Song, Sound, and Visual Effects.
Other songs chosen in the shortlist include the theme of the latest James Bond movie, 'No Time To Die' performed by Billie Eilish, which has already won a Grammy and is vying to becoming the seventh Bond theme to receive an Oscar. Jay Z is shortlisted for 'Guns Go Bang' from 'The Harder They Fall' and Beyoncé for 'Be Alive' from 'King Richard'. If both Jay Z and Beyoncé make the final nominations for Original Song they will make history in becoming the first married couple to be competing against each other in one category at the Oscars.
The 94th annual Academy Awards take place on March 27th 2022.
