Brad Pitt’s "F1" film shortlisted in five categories for Academy Awards as Ed Sheeran advances

The F1 movie has moved one step closer to recognition at the Academy Awards after it was named in five of its Oscar shortlists. 

In the shortlists announced earlier this week, the Apple TV feature film appeared in the Cinematography, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Sound and Visual Effects categories. The song "Drive" by British artist Ed Sheeran was included among the 15 songs still in contention for the Best Original Song, while the movie also remained in the running for its tight physical effects. 

Alongside the Brad Pitt-starring movie, another Apple title also made its way onto the Visual Effects shortlist The Lost Bus.

This year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences published shortlists across 12 categories. F1 is one of 16 films on the cinematography list, one of 20 on the original score list, and one of 10 in both sound and visual effects. 

In sound, it sits alongside cinematic giants Avatar: Fire and Ash, Frankenstein and the popular musical Wicked: For Good. In the visual effects category, it sits alongside nine other titles, including Tron: Ares and Jurassic World Rebirth. 

Logo detail at a reception prior to the F1 The Movie World Premiere

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

While being shortlisted doesn't promise a nomination, it does once again confirm the success of the movie that saw over $630million at the global box office. 

Nominations voting opens on 12 January next year and closes on 16 January. The final nominees will be confirmed on 22 January, with the ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on 15 March. 

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, F1 will be one of very few motorsport-centred productions to make it to the Academy Awards. John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix (1966) saw three awards in sound, film editing, and sound effects. More recently, James Mangold's Ford v Ferrari was nominated for Best Picture and won Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing at the 92nd Academy Awards. 

If F1 does convert this shortlist into nominations, it would be a rare moment for the industry, and even more of a confidence boost for those behind the production of the film, which includes Lewis Hamilton as an executive producer, as well as Jerry Bruckheimer as producer.