Oscars suspend movie theater rule due to coronavirus

Movies that skip the big screen will be allowed to contend for Oscars this year, the Academy said in a significant rule change forced by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences requires at least a seven-day run in Los Angeles theaters for movies to be eligible for Hollywood’s biggest prize. However, cinemas have been closed since mid-March, with no date set for them to reopen.

The film industry has been on lockdown in California since mid-March following strict stay-at-home orders, with movie and television shoots particularly exposed to the pandemic because of the large casts and crews required.

Once theaters reopen, the Academy will set a date from which the rule change will no longer apply, and standard theatrical qualifying requirements will return. Films released at theaters in major cities outside Los Angeles will also become eligible.

Under other new rules agreed by governor’s video call meeting, sound mixing and sound editing Oscars will be merged. Allowances will be made for scrapped film festivals that serve as qualifying events for movies in certain categories.

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