Film's biggest night is being postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak for the first time in 40 years.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday that the 93rd Oscars will no longer take place on February 28 as planned, and instead will take place on April 25, 2021.
In addition to the delay, the Academy extended the eligibility window for films, which usually corresponds to the calendar year. For the 2021 Oscars, the new window will be extended until February 28, 2021.
Submission deadlines have also been shifted back as well as the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has pushed back to April 30, 2021, instead of December 14, 2020.
The last time the Oscars were postponed was in 1981 when the ceremony was delayed for 24 hours following the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
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The new adjustments to the ceremony come roughly three months after the spread of coronavirus began taking hold in the United States and the globe, disrupting every corner of life, including the entertainment industry.
Since then, dozens of films and televisions production has been delayed or had to be reimagined, from film releases to film festivals.
Tribeca Enterprises and YouTube teamed up for a ten-day virtual film festival called We Are One: A Global Film Festival late last month.
Some highly anticipated summer movies such as "Wonder Woman 1984" and "Black Widow" have shifted their releases to the fall.
Moreover, the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAS) announced later on Monday will also push dates, which are traditionally held two weeks before the Academy Awards. It is now slated for April 11, 2021.
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Oscars 2021 make historical changes due to Coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic led to other major changes in this difficult time. The Oscars announced last April in a lengthy-statement on the Academy Awards website stated that it will allow, for the first time in history, streaming movies that were not a cinematically released to qualify for entry in the Best Picture categories and others, under certain conditions.
The Academy stated that these rules will apply until the date it determines, and when theaters reopen in accordance with federal, state, and local specified guidelines and criteria.
“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. Nonetheless, the historically tragic COVID-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules,” said Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson.
“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,” he added.
It will also expand the number of qualifying theaters beyond Los Angeles County, which will include venues in the City of New York; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia.
The awards rules committee determined that it is not fair to punish companies and filmmakers who felt or feel the need, for reasons financial or otherwise, to get their work out to the world before to the resumption of traditional moviegoing.
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It was also determined that two sound Oscars, for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, will be consolidated into one: Best Sound.
In addition, to be eligible for Best Original Score, at least 60% of the film’s music must be original, while any sequels and franchise films, a score must have a minimum of 80%.
It was also determined for the first time that film submissions will be made available through the Academy Screening Room streaming platform to those members who opt-in. These members of the International Feature Film Preliminary Voting committee must meet a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category.
For the complete 93rd Academy Awards rules, visit oscars.org/rules.
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