By Update: That didn’t take long. After having its Zoom meeting this afternoon, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to postpone the Ocar’s by two months. The show will now air on April 25, 2021. The submission deadline for consideration has also been extended, with feature films able to qualify between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2021. Special categories will need to be submitted before December 1, 2020.
It seems the coronavirus isn’t quite done tearing Hollywood asunder. Just this morning, the board of governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it will be meeting to discuss potentially postponing the date of the 2021 Oscar’s. The ceremony was originally slated to air on February 28, 2021, but it seems the lack of film releases this past year could end up hurting the overall show.
The Hollywood Reporter states that the Academy is going to delay the show and extend the film eligibility window to allow for more films to be recognized. Normally, films before December aren’t considered for the next Oscar’s, but that’s about to change for 2021. Most major releases aren’t happening until November, anyway, so that makes sense. The show may also become a digital affair, but nothing has been determined yet.
With major film festivals being canceled and blockbusters getting pushed back an entire year, I’m surprised that an awards show would even run next year. Still, the hardworking folks behind the camera do deserve recognition, so if the Academy can come up with a suitable alternative, then I’m game.
Film Academy Board Set to Postpone Oscars Ceremony and Extend Eligibility Window (Exclusive) [The Hollywood Reporter]
