BEVERLY HILLS — Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will sort through a list of 248 feature-length films this year to choose the Best Picture of 2001.

To qualify for consideration, a feature-length motion picture must have a running length of more than 40 minutes and have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.

The films also must open in a commercial theater, for paid admission, in Los Angeles County between Jan. 1, 2001, and midnight Dec. 31, 2001, and run for seven consecutive days. Official screen credit forms and copies of the main and end title credits must have been submitted to the Academy by Dec. 3, 2001.

The 74th Academy Award nominations will be announced at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 5:30 a.m. PST.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2001 will be presented on March 24, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland(R) and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PST, with a half-hour arrivals segment preceding the presentation ceremony.

Nomination ballots and a complete list of the 248 eligible films will be mailed on Tuesday, Jan. 8.