French distribution and production company MK2 is to send Cesar Award voters a self-destruct DVD of Gus Van Sant's Elephant.

With fears of film piracy on the increase, the use of such a DVD has been widely debated. However, this is understood be the first time that a self destruct screener DVD has ever been sent out to voters of a major film awards ceremony.

The self-destruct countdown begins when the disc is taken out of its wrapping. After 48 hours of contact with the air, the disc goes black. The system was created by American company Flexplay Technologies.

The DVD will be sent to members of France's Academie des Arts et Techniques du Cinema - the local equivalent of AMPAS.

Cesar nominations will be announced in late January with the ceremony following on Feb 21.