The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced today that the field of Documentary Short Subject entries for the 81st Academy Awards® has been narrowed to eight films, of which three to five will earn Oscar® nominations.

The eight films are: The Conscience of Nhem En, David McCullough: Painting with Words, Downstream, The Final Inch, Smile Pinki, Tongzhi in Love, Viva La Causa, and The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306.

The full list of nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22nd 2009.