For the first time since 1943, the Academy Awards will expand the pool of Best Picture nominees to 10, officials announced today.

While the number of nominees fluctuated over the Academy's history, the field has been set at five potential winners for more than 60 years.

"Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize," Academy president Sid Ganis said in a statement. "I can't wait to see what that list of ten looks like when the nominees are announced in February."

The 82nd annual Oscars ceremony will be held March 7, 2010. Nominations will be announced Feb. 2 of that year.