Next year’s Academy awards ceremony has been moved from February, its traditional month, to April 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic and its resultant effect on the movie industry.
The pandemic shut down movie theatres globally since March and brought film releases and production to a halt.
Also, the Academy has extended the deadline by which movies must be released in order to be eligible for an Oscar nomination from December 31, 2020 to February 28, 2021.
“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,” Academy President, David Rubin and Academy Chief Executive, Dawn Hudson said in a statement on Monday.
The shift was caused by concerns that a field consisting only of films released in 2020 would not be as broad or competitive as in previous years.
The delay also raise hopes that the 93rd Academy Awards can remain a live 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 US.
