The Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA), backed by most studios, imposed the ban in a bid to curb piracy.

However, it has created an outcry among actors and film-makers, who say it will disadvantage smaller films which rely on screeners to be seen by voters.

MPAA head Jack Valenti has met with studio officials to discuss the protest.

According to a spokesperson for Mr Valenti, the MPAA and the major studios have yet to reach a compromise over the ruling but have discussed ways in which they might be able to change it.

"The goals of this policy remain the same, to address the problem of piracy," said a spokesperson.

"But after listening to the voices out there, there is a desire to find some way to satisfy some of the concerns".

Important

Independent film industry group IFP/Los Angeles is spearheading the drive to allow screeners to be sent to voters, fearing smaller films will be passed over by Academy voters who are unable to get to the cinema often enough.

Many independent film-makers and studios are also unable to afford the cost of renting cinemas to screen their films for voters, making screeners even more important for them.

The Writers' Guild Of America (WGA) was the first union to condemn the ban, which was imposed at the beginning of October.

"Screeners have become an important part of the way small, well-written films find their audience," WGA West president Victoria Riskin said.

Last week around 142 directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, Pedro Almodovar, Martin Scorsese and James Ivory, joined the protest, writing an open letter to Valenti to ask for the ban to be lifted.