Once song still in the running for Oscars

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Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - Song Falling Slowly in still in Oscars race

There had been uncertainty over the past few days about whether the song was written specifically for the film, which is demanded by the Academy's rules.

However, following a meeting of the music branch of the Academy late last night, the song has now been declared valid and remains in contention for the prize.

In a statement reported by the New York Times, Charles Bernstein, Chairman of the Music Branch Executive Committee, said: "The Academy's Music Branch Executive Committee has met and endorsed the validity of 'Falling Slowly' as a nominated achievement. The committee relied on written assurances and detailed chronologies provided by the songwriter of 'Falling Slowly', the writer-director of 'Once' and Fox Searchlight."

He continued: "The genesis of the picture was unusually protracted, but director John Carney and songwriter Glen Hansard were working closely together in 2002 when the project that became 'Once' was discussed. 'Falling Slowly' began to be composed, but the actual script and financing for the picture was delayed for several years, during which time Mr Hansard and his collaborator Markéta Irglová played the song in some venues that were deemed inconsequential enough to not change the song's eligibility."

Bernstein said that he had called Hansard in Dublin with the news and described him as "delighted."

He added: "We needed to address whether the song was written specifically for the film and the second issue was whether it had been played prior to the inclusion in the film - did this constitute a reason to ineligibleise [sic] it."

"The first issue was satisfied by sworn statements attesting to the fact that it was written for the film along with a chronology, and the second issue was settled by the fact that it had only been performed in Europe and the Czech Republic and not in a way that would have given it advantage or influence here [the US]."