Falling Slowly,the song from the Irish film Once,has been ruled eligible for an Oscar.
Confusion arose over the song's eligibility after a blog on the New York Timeswebsite raised questions over whether Falling Slowlywas written specifically for Onceas it features on two albums recorded and released well before the film opened in the US.
According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas), which organises the Oscars, for a song to be eligible it must consist of "words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film."
However, in a statement issued today the chairman of the Academy's music branch executive committee, Charles Bernstein said the song had been approved.
"The committee relied on written assurances and detailed chronologies provided by songwriter of Falling Slowly, the writer-director of Onceand Fox Searchlight.
"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 Oncewas discussed.
" Falling Slowlybegan 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 Marketa Irglova played the song in some venues that were deemed inconsequential enough to not change the song's eligibility," the statement concluded.
Hansard and Irglova will perform the song at the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles on February 24th.