The 2021 Oscars are finally going with flow — of streaming movies.
The Academy of movie Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday that, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, streaming-only films are going to be eligible for the Academy Awards for the primary time. And for one year only.
“The academy firmly believes there’s no greater thanks to experience the magic of flicks than to ascertain them during a theater,” academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson says during a statement. “Our commitment thereto is unchanged and unwavering. Nonetheless, the historically tragic COVID-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules.”
While within the past, Netflix movies like “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story” are nominated, they were up for Oscars only because they also enjoyed short runs at brick-and-mortar theaters in select cities.
However, with no widespread reopening in view for major theater chains like AMC and Regal, the antiquated rule would’ve forced the postponement or outright cancellation of the 93rd Academy Awards, thanks to happen on Feb. 28, 2021.
Although the academy maintains this is often a one-year-only bend of the principles , direct-to-digital film releases are likely here to remain .
Universal Studios’ “Trolls World Tour,” which was dropped on at-home platforms like Amazon Prime and iTunes, generated $100 million in revenue in three weeks, consistent with IndieWire. That success led Jeff Shell, the CEO of its parent company NBCUniversal, to champion the shift. “As soon as theaters reopen, we expect to release movies on both formats,” he said.
And upcoming film festivals that are major stops during awards season, like the Toronto International festival and therefore the ny festival , are reportedly considering remote, digital viewing options.
