"Frozen River" is the first DVD screener shipped to academy members this year. Sony Pictures Classics sent it to all branches. Several voters I checked with yesterday had received it on Saturday and Monday, but one still doesn't have it in his mailbox.

Being the first DVD screener out is believed to have helped "Little Miss Sunshine" reach the best-picture contest two years ago.

Among other early DVDs that year, "Half Nelson" made it to the best actor race (Ryan Gosling) and "United 93" scored noms for director (Paul Greengrass) and editing, but "World Trade Center" and "Friends with Money" got short-changed — no noms at all.

However, the next batch, which arrived in November, did extremely well: "Volver," "The Queen," "Babel" and "Thank You for Smoking."

Last year Fox Searchlight was first with "The Namesake," "Waitress" and "Once," but only "Once" reaped an Oscar bid, which it won — best song. The next batch of DVDs to reach voters didn't fare too well either: "A Mighty Heart," "Breach," "Spider-Man 3," "Reign Over Me," "Zodiac," "Things We Lost in the Fire," "Freedom Writers," "Knocked Up" and "Across the Universe." Then in late October and early November these titles shipped: "Into the Wild," "3:10 to Yuma," "The Kingdom," "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "Margot at the Wedding," "Starting Out in the Evening," "Away from Her" and "Bug."

In addition to getting early academy notice this year with the DVD of "Frozen River" in academy members' hands, Melissa Leo also got a push from the San Sebastian Film Festival, which just voted her best actress. She is one of several gals Sony Pictures Classics has in the lead actress derby. Others: Kristin Scott Thomas ("I've Loved You So Long") and Anne Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married").

(Sony Pictures Classics)