Here we go again – Oscar time! With The Social Network currently gobbling up the top critic awards across the nation – including the National Board of Review, the New York Film Critics Circle and even Roger Ebert – it’s obvious that David Fincher’s phenomenal masterpiece is the film to beat come March. As for the other potential nominees, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has no less than 247 (not including Network) other films to consider before narrowing their list to 10 for the Academy Awards. That number is down from 274 in 2009 and 281 in 2008.Hit the jump for more on how the AMPAS determines eligibility.By Academy rules, a film must open commercially in an LA theater before December 31 and run for no less than seven days in order to be considered eligible for a nomination. The film must also run longer than 40 minutes and must “have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format” according to THR.Obvious Best Picture contenders are David O. Russell’s The Fighter, Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech , Christopher Nolan’s Inception, Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan and the Coen Bros.’ True Grit (which failed to receive Golden Globe love, but will more than likely benefit from an extended pool of nominees). What other films will round out the Best Picture-nominees? Only a short wait until we find out.true_grit_international_movie_poster_slice_01