While movie theaters are closed (except for some drive-ins), movie studios have taken to streaming their recent releases online and on VOD which ordinarily would disqualify them for Academy Award consideration, but Tuesday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences changed their rules.
Ordinarily AMPAS requires a seven-day run in a Los Angeles movie theater prior to December 31st, but given the ongoing closures due to the pandemic perhaps into the late summer, the board of governors decided to wave the theatrical run. If films had a theatrical run scheduled for 2020 but were forced to stream their new release, they can still qualify for the 2021 award show. They are also expanding qualifying movie theaters outside of Los Angeles to major markets.
The other requirement to be considered is providing the members with an online screener on the Academy Screening Room member-only streaming site within 60 days of the film’s streaming or VOD release.
The decision makes sense given the unpredictable nature of the coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty of whether audiences will be ready to visit theaters once they open this summer.
Another major change announced was the combining of two categories. Two separate awards were given out for Sound Mixing and Sound Editing, but next year, the two categories will be combined to one titled, Best Sound.
Next year's Academy Awards will be held on February 28.
