In light of the current pandemic, The Academy Awards aka Oscars, have amended their eligibility rules for one year only to allow streamed films to be considered.
Normally, the requirement is that a film needs a seven-day theatrical run in a commercial theatre in Los Angeles County to qualify. The new rule, set by its governing body will take into consideration any film released digitally without playing in theatres. However, the new rule does come with a couple of stipulations, the first being that the film had already had an intended theatrical release date. The second that the film must also be made available on the Academy Screening Room member-only streaming site within 60 days of the film’s streaming or VOD release.
The new rule will be lifted and revert back to the 7-day requirement once theatres reopen to the general public.
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Furthermore, The Academy has also announced they have scrapped eliminate Oscar categories sound mixing and sound editing, both will now fall under one category.
“The Academy firmly believes there is no greater way to experience the magic of movies than to see them in a theatre,” Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a statement. “Our commitment to that is unchanged and unwavering. Nonetheless, the historically tragic COVID-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules. The Academy supports our members and colleagues during this time of uncertainty. We recognize the importance of their work being seen and also celebrated, especially now, when audiences appreciate movies more than ever.”
In further awards shake-up news, The association behind The Golden Globes, The Hollywood Foreign Press, have also amended their rules. They will allow studios to provide screening links for voting members instead of having films played at third-party facilities.
The HFPA will now consider titles that had a theatrical release planned to begin in Los Angeles starting March 15, with no cut-off date.
