By Matt Neglia
In a press release today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced some new rules for the 95th Academy Awards pertaining to Best Original Song and other categories as well as changes to eligibility and campaign requirements.
Click below to see the news.
The eligibility period for Academy Awards consideration will return to the full calendar year: a feature film must have a qualifying theatrical release date between January 1st, 2022, and December 31st, 2022. The Academy Screening Room will no longer be a method of qualification, as theaters have reopened; the six qualifying U.S. metropolitan areas continue to be Los Angeles County; the City of New York; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia, and apply to General Entry categories as well as the Documentary and Short Film categories. This means that many of the Searchlight/Hulu films without any kind of theatrical release (“Fresh“) won’t be eligible while something like “Turning Red” would still be because it received a limited theatrical release.
The Board of Governors approved other rules changes for the 95th Awards including:
- In the Documentary categories, the two category names have been changed to: Documentary Feature Film & Documentary Short Film
- In the Music (Original Song) category, no more than three songs from any one film may be submitted.
- In the Sound category, producers will be required to make their films available for viewing by Sound Branch members, particularly when the release date is after the preliminary voting cycle opens. Any special circumstances requests regarding eligible nominees must be received by the General Entry deadline of November 15, 2022. Additionally, clips for the nominating screening (bake-off) shall not exceed 10 minutes of running time per title.
The submission deadlines are as follows:
Documentary Feature Film – Monday, October 3, 2022
International Feature Film – Monday, October 3, 2022
Animated Short Film – Friday, October 14, 2022
Documentary Short Film – Friday, October 14, 2022
Live Action Short Film – Friday, October 14, 2022
Original Score – Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Original Song – Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Animated Feature Film – Tuesday, November 15, 2022
General Entry categories – Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Campaign regulations, which specify how companies and individuals may market to Academy members films and achievements eligible for the 95th Academy Awards, were also updated. Variety went into this information in more detail.
Access to the Academy Screening Room will continue to be made available for all eligible releases. Digital links to materials will be permitted under certain circumstances. Film synopses may no longer contain credits, as film companies will now have the option to include credits on the Academy Screening Room prior to Nominations.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced key dates recently for the 95th Academy Awards which can be read below:
General entry categories submission deadline: Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Governors Awards: Saturday, November 19, 2022
Preliminary voting begins: 9 a.m. PT Monday, December 12, 2022
Preliminary voting ends: 5 p.m. PTThursday, December 15, 2022
Oscar Shortlists Announcement: Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Eligibility period ends: Saturday, December 31, 2022
Nominations voting begins: 9 a.m. PT Thursday, January 12, 2023
Nominations voting ends: 5 p.m. PT Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Oscar Nominations Announcement: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Oscar Nominees Luncheon: Monday, February 13, 2023
Finals voting begins: 9 a.m. PT Thursday, March 2, 2023
Finals voting ends: 5 p.m. PT Tuesday, March 7, 2023
95th Oscars: Sunday, March 12, 2023
The 95th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 12th, 2023. The show will air live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
What do you think of these announcements? Are you happy the Oscars will be held once again in March compared to late February? What do you think of the category changes and eligibility requirements? Please let us know in the comments section below or on our Twitter account.
You can follow Matt and hear more of his thoughts on the Oscars and Film on Twitter at @NextBestPicture
