Next year’s Oscars postponed

Next year’s Oscars have been postponed by eight weeks to 25 April after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered movie theatres and wreaked havoc on Hollywood’s release calendar, the Academy said.

With many studio blockbusters and indie arthouse movies forced to push back their release dates until theatres reopen, the cut-off date for Oscar-eligible films has also been extendto the end of February.

“Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalised for something beyond anyone’s control,” said Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson.

The movie industry’s biggest night was originally scheduled for 28 February next year.

Monday’s move was prompted by concerns that a field consisting only of films released in 2020 would not be as broad or competitive as in previous years.

Most US movie theatres remain closed, and film productions have ground to a halt, with fears mounting of a second wave of Covid-19 cases.

Productions slowly restarting in the coming weeks as lockdown restrictions ease will now have two extra months to finish without having to sacrifice their Oscar hopes.

The delay also boosts hopes that the 93rd Academy Awards can remain a live, star-studded ceremony, rather than shifting to a “virtual” presentation.

“We find ourselves in uncharted territory this year and will continue to work with our partners at the Academy to ensure next year’s show is a safe and celebratory event,” said Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment, which will broadcast the show in the United States.