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Oscars Relax 2020 Eligibility Rules in Boost for Streamed Movies

The academy will expand eligibility to movies that were to premiere in theaters but were first released to home audiences.

Oscars Relax 2020 Eligibility Rules in Boost for Streamed Movies
Oscar statuettes stand in the plating room in a factory in Chicago, U.S. (Photographer: John Zich/Bloomberg) 

(Bloomberg) -- The group behind the Oscars is relaxing the rules for this year’s movies because of the coronavirus shutdown, allowing films that premiered on streaming platforms to compete for the industry’s most-coveted prizes.

The change applies only to movies that had a previously planned theatrical release and only for the upcoming 93rd Academy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 28. The old rules will be back once theaters reopen, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences said Tuesday.

Rule changes for Oscars are rare, and the guidelines for competing have been the source of controversy as streaming platforms such as Netflix Inc. pour billions of dollars into feature films and seek to compete for top Hollywood awards. Normally, movies must premiere in a theater in Los Angeles County and show for seven consecutive days, playing at least three times a day, to be considered for Oscars, including best picture.

Netflix releases most of its movies online only, but has made concessions to academy rules in a few instances.

With theaters across the U.S. shut down, the academy will expand eligibility to include movies that were supposed to premiere in theaters, but instead were first released to home audiences. Films can also premiere in theaters outside Los Angeles County, including New York, Chicago and Atlanta.

For the most part, studios release their awards contenders late in the year. So far, just a few major productions have debuted online, with the studios mostly delaying their big premieres. Universal Pictures’ “Trolls World Tour” and Warner Bros.’ “Scoob!” are skipping theatrical runs and becoming available for rental earlier than normal.

The academy said all dates related to the 2021 ceremony are subject to change as it responds to the coronavirus pandemic. The academy also said the 93rd Oscars season would be the last in which physical DVDs are sent to voting members. In the future, they must be sent digitally, according to a statement.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.