Oscars to Allow Online Released Films to Compete Next Year
Owing to the unusual circumstances that the world has gotten into due to Coronavirus pandemic, Oscars too have made a huge change to its eligibility policies for next year’s contenders. According to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, movies released on online streaming sites and on-demand video platforms will be allowed to run for the Oscars in 2021.
Earlier, a movie had to run in a Los Angeles theater for at least seven days to become eligible for Oscars nomination but as cinemas in the country closed down in mid-March due to virus outbreak, the amendment has been made to rules.
“The Academy firmly believes there is no greater way to experience the magic of movies than to see them in a theater. Our commitment to that is unchanged and unwavering,” said a statement by The Academy President David Rubin and Chief Executive Dawn Hudson.
“Nonetheless, the historically tragic COVID-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules,” added the statement.
After the cinema’s closure, various production houses released their films online to keep up with the schedule. Trolls World Tour has already been released by Universal online whereas Disney too has announced to release Artemis Fowl on its platform Disney+.
The new rule will only be implemented for the Oscars taking place on February 28, 2021.
