The theatrical requirements for movies vying for the Oscars top prize are getting a little tougher.
Starting with the 97th in 2025, best picture hopefuls will have to spend more time in theaters to qualify for film91裸聊视频檚 top prize. The changes, announced by the of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this week, come after three years of .
On top of the current one week 91裸聊视频渜ualifying run91裸聊视频� in one of six U.S cities 91裸聊视频� New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco or Miami 91裸聊视频� best picture contenders would now must also now play for an additional seven days in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets. Additionally, there91裸聊视频檚 several other new rules about when the movies must play in theaters.
91裸聊视频淚t is our hope that this expanded theatrical footprint will increase the visibility of films worldwide and encourage audiences to experience our art form in a theatrical setting,91裸聊视频� Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement.
It91裸聊视频檚 part gesture to theaters still struggling from the pandemic, partly for audiences in markets outside of New York and Los Angeles who don91裸聊视频檛 always get theatrical access to best picture contenders, and partly a statement to deep pocketed streaming services that theaters remain paramount for Hollywood91裸聊视频檚 top prize.
The film academy91裸聊视频檚 leaders also say the decision was born out of many conversations with industry partners and that they feel that this 91裸聊视频渆volution benefits film artists and movie lovers alike.91裸聊视频�
But some in the industry questioned what it really changes, who it benefits and who it might hurt.
Michael O91裸聊视频橪eary, the President and CEO of the National Association of Theater Owners, applauded the 91裸聊视频渋mportant initiative.91裸聊视频� In a statement, O91裸聊视频橪eary said it 91裸聊视频渁ffirms that theatrical exhibition is the keystone of the industry.91裸聊视频�
For traditional studios, from the big ones like Warner Bros., Universal and Disney, to the smaller players, like A24 and Neon, behind recent best picture winners 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淧arasite,91裸聊视频� it likely affects very little.
For streaming services, it could be a case-by-case adjustment depending on the company but not a hurdle. Amazon is already planning to release every year, as they91裸聊视频檝e already done with Ben Affleck91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淎ir.91裸聊视频� on movies that will land in cinemas before streaming, including Ridley Scott91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淣apoleon.91裸聊视频�
Netflix has had a bigger theatrical footprint lately too. Not only do they control two U.S. theaters 91裸聊视频� New York91裸聊视频檚 Paris Theater and Los Angeles91裸聊视频� American Cinematheque 91裸聊视频� but they91裸聊视频檝e also historically given theatrical runs to their awards hopefuls. All of Netflix91裸聊视频檚 nominees since have met the requirement. Its , 91裸聊视频淎ll Quiet on the Western Front,91裸聊视频� played in hundreds of theaters.
The new rule may weed out the possibility of a grassroots campaign on behalf of a very small film, however. Independent theaters and those willing to play independent films have become rarer and the competition is fierce for those screens in the major markets. Some of the bigger indie stalwarts are even scheduling major studio films, leaving fewer times and screens available for true independents.
Much like the diversity requirements that went into effect this year, few could think of recent best picture players that wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have met this threshold. Apple91裸聊视频檚 best picture winner 91裸聊视频淐ODA91裸聊视频� played in about 40 theaters. Even non-traditional Oscar 91裸聊视频渦nderdogs91裸聊视频� like 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� had substantial theatrical runs.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 important to consider that qualifying is merely a first step in a long process that involves robust and costly campaigning,91裸聊视频� said Dan Berger, the president of the independent film company Oscilloscope. 91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 fair to say that nearly any film that doesn91裸聊视频檛 meet these parameters never stood a chance in a best picture race anyway.91裸聊视频�
Berger added: 91裸聊视频淗opefully the result of this isn91裸聊视频檛 more robust and more costly campaigning that only serves to further divide merit based results from campaign based results.91裸聊视频�
There are a lot of unknowns about the specifics of the expansion, including whether there will be minimum of showtimes and screens. Could companies simply rent out eight screens that will play to minimal or no crowds in densely populated areas that are relatively cheap and that are also not historically great for indie films? It91裸聊视频檒l check the box, but will it help theaters, the films or audiences? And will it lead to an even greater year-end bottleneck of releases?
Questions also remain about how it will affect the eligibility of animated films and documentaries, which wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have to meet these requirements to qualify in their individual categories but now might have to adopt a different strategy to be in contention for best picture.
Others are more hopeful and know that the academy91裸聊视频檚 board of governors meet often to as the landscape continues to change.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about time that the academy made a move to recommit to theatrical. The Oscars were inching closer and closer to becoming the Emmys,91裸聊视频� said one top awards strategist and academy member who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the changes. 91裸聊视频淐ould they have gone further? Of course. But it91裸聊视频檚 a good faith step in the right direction.91裸聊视频�
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