Will Academy voters embrace a Harmony Korine film? Chances are certainly overwhelming slim, but that’s not stopping Annapurna Pictures. Megan Ellison‘s company, who have a hand in a number of major fall films (including The Master, Zero Dark Thirty and Killing Them Softly), nabbed the latest project from the eccentric director, Spring Breakers. And with a praise for none other than James Franco emerging from the fall festival screenings, they have their sights set on Oscar glory.

While yours truly thinks the actor (who recently grabbed a Best Actor nomination for his turn in 127 Hours) may end up getting a Golden Globe nomination at best for his performance as a cornrow-wearing, drug-dealing rapper, Showbiz 411 is reporting that Annapurna Pictures will give Spring Breakers a qualifying run this December (though no specific date set yet) to make Franco eligible for award season. The big question that remains is if this company will link up with a major distributor, but that has yet to be determined.

We adored the film at its Toronto International Film Festival premiere (full review here), saying while it “isn’t necessarily a moralistic film condemning anything, but rather a tone poem on the emotions of youthful idiocy. It penetrates the evil and melancholy lurking under pop surfaces to a point of terror and unbridled entertainment.” We even lobbed praise at Franco (who is joined by Selena Gomezand Vanessa Hudgens, among others) saying he “plays up his dopey stoner attitude and comic timing for one side, his natural charm and surprising intensity for the other.” His supporting actor competition is clearly strong this fall, even alongside Annapurna’s own  Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master, but I’d love to see one of Korine’s creations get some recognition, even as implausible as it may be.

Are you looking forward to see Spring Breakers get a year-end release? Do you think it has Oscar chances?