Bafta best film list not expanded

Slumdog director Danny Boyle and actress Rubiana Ali

Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire won best picture this year

Bafta will not follow the Academy Awards and expand its best picture shortlist at next year's ceremony, a Bafta spokeswoman has confirmed.

Speaking to BBC Five Live, Bafta's managing director Amanda Berry said: "I can categorically say at the moment we have no plans to increase to 10 films."

She added: "We decided that we think top five is the right number of films".

Oscars officials said the move will recognise a wider range of films and include "more populist movies".

TV ratings

It is the first time since 1943 that 10 films will be in the running.

Following last year's Oscars ceremony, the show's producers advised the Academy that efforts were needed to bring the show to a wider audience.

It is believed that if the best picture category were to feature more box office hits, television ratings would improve in 2010.

They obviously think that by increasing the best film to 10 they're going to get a larger audience for it

Bafta managing director Amanda Berry

"I think they're just constantly - as we do at Bafta - looking at the event to see that it works within the industry and the television audience," Ms Berry said.

"They obviously think that by increasing the best film to 10 they're going to get a larger audience for it.

"Now obviously you should never say never and obviously we continue every year to look at our rules and regulations and the categories and the make-up of the categories, but I can categorically say at the moment we have no plans to increase to 10 films."

It has also been announced that no Oscar will be awarded for best song at next year's ceremony if none of the tunes are deemed to be good enough.

The Baftas always take place in February just before the Oscars.

The ceremony sometimes indicates which actors are likely to take home an Academy Award.

Assurances have been made that the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony, which takes place on 7 March, will not be longer due to having 10 shortlisted films.