Visual Effects shortlist:

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Iron Man
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

These will be narrowed down on the 15th of January after members of the Academy’s visual effects branch have viewed 15 minute clips of these movies, presumably showcasing their effects. The members shall then vote, and then there will be three.

Makeup shorltist:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Reader
Synecdoche, New York
Tropic Thunder
The Wrestler

There is only a ten minute clip for these movies, they will be voted on on 17th January, to produce the final list of 3.

The 81st Academy Awards are on EDIT: February 22nd.

Via SHH:

The Producers Guild of America has just nominated the movie for its annual Producers Guild Awards taking place Saturday, January 24 at the Hollywood Palladium. The Dark Knight is going up against The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk and Slumdog Millionaire for Best Picture.

Things are looking on course for an Oscar nomination come January 22nd!