Oscar ban for Hurt Locker producer

A producer of the war film The Hurt Locker will not be allowed to attend the Academy Awards because of emails he sent urging academy members to vote for his movie.

But Nicolas Chartier will receive an Oscar if his film wins best picture.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the action against producer Nicolas Chartier, who broke Oscar rules that ban mail that promotes a film by disparaging another.

Chartier sent emails seeking support for The Hurt Locker, "not a '500-million dollar film' - an apparent reference to best-picture contender Avatar.

Subsequent emails, posted by the Los Angeles Times, showed Chartier asking Oscar voters to rank The Hurt Locker at No 1 and Avatar at No 10 among this year's expanded best-picture lineup of 10 films.

Chartier apologised in a subsequent email.

"My naivete, ignorance of the rules and plain stupidity as a first-time nominee is not an excuse for this behaviour and I strongly regret it," Chartier wrote.

Chartier cannot attend Sunday's ceremony, but he will receive his Oscar later if The Hurt Locker wins.

The Oscars - Who will win? Who should win. Read more.

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