Oscars Delayed Until April 2021
Monday, June 15, 2020 at 10:05PM 
Note: This article was written on a very crappy personal day and readers have complained that it is too petulant and that we have larger fish to fry right now (which is very much true). But this is a film/Oscars site so we couldn't not to discuss it. Nevertheless, we will try to keep a wider perspective next time we're upset with AMPAS. That chance will surely come again since to know the Oscars is a perpetual rollercoaster of elation and disappointment. -Nathaniel R
Swift on the heels of great Academy news, we get terrible news. The Oscars will not take place in February 28th as previously announced but will be pushed back two months to April 25th, 2021. (The nominations will be announced on March 15th, 2021 which means our April Foolish predictions now have an excuse for how long they're taking to finish) This also means they're pushing back the opening of the Academy Museum again. Now that will open in late April 2021 to coincide with the presumed Oscar afterglow...
While it is exceedingly rare for an Oscar ceremony to be postponed (this is only the 4th time in history), having the Oscars in April is not actually rare. In fact, from 1959 through 1984 they were usually in April. However April 25th is the latest the Oscar ceremony has ever taken place in the year but for the first four ceremonies when the Academy was just beginning to invent themselves.
Not only will the Oscars be late-late-late this year but the eligibility window will be extended through the end of February. The last time the Oscars did not go by a simple calendar year was waaaaay back at the 6th Academy Awards,which honored films released between August 1932 all the way through to the end of 1933. That 17 month time frame was the longest window ever considered by Oscar voters and it was never to be repeated as Oscar went with that long stretch in order to shift to a perfect calendar year equation beginning with the 1934 Oscars (held in February 1935).
To say that we're disappointed in this latest move by the Academy is an understatement. But they explain it like so:
Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone's control"
But why is it penalizing someone to make them compete in the year in which they release?
While this latest move fits with the willy-nilly 'we're making this up as we go along' first six years of the Oscars, it's not in keeping with the general spirit of the Oscars which is to honor a specific film year or the legendary institution they've become. The Oscar's governing body has bowed out of what could have been a fascinating test case in attempting to actually do their job: honoring a film year, picking out its treasures, no matter what that film year offered. Not all film years are created equally (any test drive through history confirms this fact) but every film year has great stuff within it. It ought to be the Academy's job to elevate the great stuff, not to avoid picking through a year to find it whilst hoping that big prestige movies arrive just in time to make your job easier for you if you give them a little more time.
What's more, with theaters scheduled to begin opening up again next month this feels like premature panicking unless the Academy is bowing to a double whammy of anxiety surrounding a second wave of COVID-19 and probable pressure from major studios who do want to push some of their hopefuls into 2021.
But we don't like it.
This will definitely mess up one of the key and most fun elements of Oscar-mania and cinephilia: top ten listing. We here at TFE will be sticking with the calendar year for our own awards lest time and vintage mean nothing. Look, 2020 was never going to be the best film year, given the chaos of shutdowns and unfinished films, but it is surely an interesting one and the Oscars should have sorted through the rubble to find the beauty in what was on and what will be on offer. Sadly they've abdicated some of that responsibility.
This also begs the question of what will become of the 94th Oscars? Will they only honor just a 10 month window in order to return to the calendar year system and their usual February perch?
THOUGHTS?
P.S. It should crack you up to know that the embarrassingly Oscar-obsessed BAFTAs immediately moved their date to April 11th so that they could be right before the Oscars again in an attempt to predict them rather than just to carry out the duty of coming up with their own "best" prizes. There's no word yet on when the Golden Globes, SAG, or Critics Choice ceremonies will be but we suspect they'll also follow the leader because they too, like the BAFTAs, live to try and "predict" the big daddy. Which is sad. How much more interesting might it be if in this next round all the ceremonies were at different times and just did their own things?!
We'll leave you with with trivia...
MOST COMMON DATE TO HOLD THE OSCARS
[TIE] There have five ceremonies each on both March 25th and on March 29th.
ONLY NUMERICAL DAYS ON WHICH THE OSCARS HAVE NEVER BEEN HELD
The 1st and the 12th
BREAKDOWN OF OSCAR CEREMONIES
February - 18 ceremonies
March - 47 ceremonies
April -23, soon to be 24 ceremonies
May - 1 ceremony
November - 3 ceremonies
ONLY OSCAR CEREMONIES NOT HONORING ONE FILM YEAR
1st -WINGS (no precise eligibility window but honoring the films of 1927 and 1928)
2nd -THE BROADWAY MELODY (12 month window - August 1st, 1928 to July 31st, 1929)
3rd -ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (12 month window - August 1st, 1929 to July 31st, 1930)
4th -CIMARRON (12 month window - August 1st, 1930 to July 31st, 1931)
5th -GRAND HOTEL (12 month window - August 1st, 1931 to July 31st, 1932)
6th -CAVALCADE (17 month window - August 1st, 1932 to Dec 31st, 1933)
93rd -winner tba (14 month window - January 1st, 2020 to February 28th, 2021)
94th -winner tba (eligibility period tbd)
Reader Comments (59)
Gross.
I mean maybe it'll all be for naught because, as you say, there'll probably be a 2nd wave (though technically we're not DONE with the 1st wave yet in this country... SERIOUSLY PEOPLE STAY HOME OR WEAR A MASK... THOSE ARE YOUR ONLY OPTIONS RIGHT NOW).
Ultimately, it'll be more likely we'll have a ceremony in 2022 honoring 2020/2021 films. Or just maybe PARASITE will be the last Best Picture winner.
Yes, all the other awards shows will move their presentation dates, remora-like, to be closer to daddy Oscar. I think they all have the perception that they need the AMPAS to be at all relevant. Which means they shortchange themselves right off the bat. Which says a lot.
I take all those points and can see the concerns.
A plus for those of us in Australia (and maybe New Zealand): we have our annual day of remembrance for past conflicts, ANZAC Day, on April 25th. Many states and territories will get a public holiday following this, on the 26th. This means that it will be the very rare case where many of us can actually host live Oscar parties, starting from midday on Monday April 26th (normally most Australians are working during the ceremony, and/or have to watch it on delay in the evening after spending about 8 hours trying to avoid any spoilers).
Don't underestimate the value of this for us down under: this is GREAT!
I totally saw this coming. Why is everyone so surprised on Twitter?
I think it's positive for the foreign category.
I'm sure they just wanted to allow enough time for "The Woman in the Window" to finally get a release.
Shit.
I will kiss the ground of any award body who doesn't change its dates after this announcement. If critics stick with only 2020 movies, it could be a interesting year, but I doubt it.
Now we are gonna have the December glut on February, those who always love last minute releases are gonna show all their cards if they change their dates, and probably we are gonna end with a December winner, because now December is October.
2020 is totally fucked up. There's no way we're making it better so what about 2021? No one is shooting.
thumbs down
From NPR: "...submissions for best picture, original score and song, and other general entries is now Jan. 15, 2021"
So, weirdly, it seems that the best picture category will honor movies from 2020, plus two weeks. Unless I'm misinterpreting.
The article if anyone is curious: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/15/877567725/oscars-postponed-two-months-because-of-pandemic
What a clustercuss and befuddling. The Oscars are meant to celebrate the best of a given year. If it’s a weird year then so be it. That they’d rather change the definition of a calendar year then go outside their comfort zone for non-Oscary movies, is very disappointing.
Honestly if this years nominees were
Bad Education
Da 5 Bloods
Driveways
Shirley
Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always
That would be as good list as any they’ve had recently. And of course there’s still 6 and a half months of the year left.
Bad Education is a TV movie. Eligible for Emmys not Oscars
The April ceremony date isn't in itself a problem. Last season was ridiculously truncated (though thankfully produced an excellent choice for Best Picture). The eligibility extension is a bit unnecessary - especially as the Academy had already announced the rule change to allow some straight-to-streaming movies to compete. The BAFTAs moving back is a bit desperate.
But I can't bring myself to mind too much. This year has been so awful so far in many ways - on a personal level, my Dad died in February, and then there was the pandemic with so many deaths including many that could have been avoided if only governments had invested better in health care in the years before, plus we're still having to persuade people - in 2020 - that black people are equal to all other citizens, and so on and so on...that even though I love the Oscars and love their regularity, this year I'm judging things not against how they would have normally been - which is a recipe for disappointment - but against how it would be if they weren't happening at all. I'm counting my blessings.
Ok, it's a mess, but a necesary one. I guess some studios are behind this decision. The biggest problem will be 2022, so they will have to take measure according to the the health problems.
I understand the early push of the date back because I mean who knows how the world will look in the near future. I too do not like expanding the film year eligibility into February because it as always is discounting films from the first half of the year. If they'd moved it a month back I'd understand because for being such a great thing a lot of the oscars is about advertising and they've got to think of these things far in advance.
The fact that the 17 month window gave us the worst Best Picture winner ever (and yes, I've seen them all - Cimarron is literally the worst of them) doesn't speak well for this strange delay. Are we going to have last minute qualifying runs for films that end up coming out in March? Weird.
Realized immediately after posting it was Cavalcade. Oops. Still, that landed in my bottom 10 of the winners. Imagine going 17 months and thinking that was the best thing you'd seen...
You folks really still think there's going to be a movie year? Forget second wave: there's not going to be enough reopening even now. Big cities, wary of the virus, aren't going to open their theatres, certainly not at anything like full capacity. And studios aren't going to put their high-priced films out in a reduced marketplace. Nor are they going to just bump them to streaming. They need that huge theatre income in addition to the streaming revenue. As for smaller movies, they, too, rely largely on major city releases -- as well as well-attended festival launches -- to establish themselves before they hit streaming platforms. Just dumping them out there will do no one any favors.
Most films currently scheduled will be bumped to post-corona time -- hopefully sometime early enough next year. And studios will be glad they have product for then, because there sure as hell isn't going to be much shooting between now and then. The process of filmmaking is pretty much the opposite of social distancing, and won't return till participants -- actors above all -- feel safe. Which won't be for some time.
I'm with the first commenter above: there'll be an Oscars in late winter 2022, covering all movies for 2020-2021. And it'll probably have about the same number of qualifying films as we've had in recent standard years.
I don't see why there's this driving need to have an Oscars this year, when there are barely going to be movies. There's not going to be a real World Series champion, or Olympic medalists, or lots of other things we' normally expect. It's like a wartime year, and we really ought to learn to accept it.
With all that’s currently going on, plus the Academy figuring out everything, getting petulant over a couple months seems very selfish.
Put your pedantry away and show some reason and compassion. If this is your attitude than I would be surprised if anybody would choose to donate a ‘cup of coffee’ to you over BLM or even a Cláudio patreon or equivalent.
bUt mY LiStS!!!1!
What privilege!
Oh Nathaniel honey no, what is you doing? Please get your love of film back, if it’s inextricably linked to one organisation or strict one year windows for a particular groups awards you need to reflect. Be like a Cláudio or Eric, love movies and the rest is gravy!
Nathaniel you finding this news “terrible” is a valid instinctual reaction. Qwhite valid indeed.
This decision is all about money. If something like The King of Staten Island with its $20 rental fee ends up generating substantial revenue that matches box off numbers, teh industry will embrace technology and move to streaming. Big discount warehouse online sellers will make dollars selling 75 or larger LQED televisions and soundbars so we can make our own home theaters.
I have no intention of going back to theaters. I will not miss the piss that is not mopped off the floors surrounding the toilets. I will not miss the smell of butter substitute filling my breathing space. I will not miss the smacking of the couple behind me sharing an extra large tub nor their slurping from a half gallon size cup of soda. I definitely will not miss their hyperactive child kicking my seat when the movie is not blaring its soundtrack and providing quick edits that only feed the ADD. I will not miss having to arrange my day to meet a theater's start times as opposed to deciding when I begin my film.
Once the AMPAS Board of Governors see that millions will be gained, not lost, by streaming, the death knell for the multiscreen megacomplex will toll. And only then will our awards calendars will return to normal.
(More so about this article and tone)
Choices.
Things will get worse if there is a 2nd wave or even a 3rd wave. And thanks to the creature in the whitehouse, it is likely there will be over 250,000 deaths by the end of the year.
I am staying home and wearing a mask when I go out - despite what trump says.
And I am catching up viewing a LOT of movies that I didn't see in 2018 and 2019.
And so far Parasite is STILL the best picture of 2019.
And Green Book is DEFINITELY not the best picture of 2018.
The BAFTAs have long been a joke... they used to be more idiosyncratic, nominating and awarding more outside-the-box and obviously more British-centric performances and films. Now it's just shameless Hollywood worship and star-fucking. Even the TV awards do this – last year they deemed Killing Eve eligible against their rules just because they wanted to award a trendy show.
I can understand if they don't want to happen after the Oscars when everyone's so fed up with award ceremonies, but they really should try to go back to their own identity and focus on the rich British film industry. For one thing, they should only make British-funded films or British actors eligible.
i am empathectic to your feelings, but not everything we feel or think need to be written in an article. There are far more important things to be worried about. And the oscars actually are trying to honor the films in the best way, and not your top ten list process.
I definitely wouldn’t call this terrible news as the, very trivial, changes are only made because of the extraordinary circumstances taking place right now. I think you should consult a stronger writer, a Cláudio for example, because the would tell you that in this context terrible conveys whinging whereas unfortunate would convey a disappointment and sadness at this news, but conveying that you know much of it is reasonable. (Which only a dolt wouldn’t concede so I assume you know that).
Like the better commenters here have mentioned, perspective, empathy and compassion should be the lens we use at this time. Value movies over awards, despite the latter being your bread and butter.
This doesn't bother me that much honestly.
For all intents and purposes the Academy has been considering January/February releases all this time. You can't tell me something that opens in two theaters on Christmas and most people can't see until Valentine's Day is a late-year release.
They're basically admitting what they've been doing all along. This year we just won't see token December releases.
***although I bet we're still getting token December releases anyway!
It's ok at least it's happening.
2020 was never going to be the best film year, given the chaos of shutdowns and unfinished films, but it is surely an interesting one and the Oscars should have sorted through the rubble to find the beauty in what was on and what will be on offer. Sadly they've abdicated some of that responsibility.
I do agree with this particular part of the essay.
The pile-on isn’t cute, y’all. FWIW I agree that the Academy should just honor the films of 2020, as long as they suspend the qualifying run requirement for the year. Lest we forget the films that have already realized commercial success through VOD and streaming.
I was more bothered by mandating a ten solid for the best picture field. Corona has ruined the film year. The Academy is being flexible and reasonable this time around in their decision making. And you're worried about stuff you have no control over.
1. Those of us who are older remember the Oscars happening in March, so April isn't much of a stretch.
2. As JF pointed out the Academy with their December Eligibility rule, has been considering movies released in January and February already. There have been a number of Oscar nominated films that got wide releases much later than December. So this isn't really different at all.
Let's relax, wear our masks when in public spaces, and keep plodding through.
I'm more worried about TIFF.
With the extension of the eligibility period I'm worried we will have a lot of "Oscar movies" being released in the early 2021 and then there will be almost none to be released for the Academy Awards 2022 eligibility period
Y'all are being way harsh on Nathaniel. The virtue-signaling by pointing out there are more important things to be concerned about (which, duh) is far more obnoxious than anything he wrote in his post. Obviously everything to do with Oscars and film awards and when they're given is trivial in comparison with the non-stop disaster that is the state of our country and planet. The Oscars and all its intricacies, foibles, and history are also the #1 reason people visit this site. Talking about them is supposed to provide a respite from said disaster, not ignore or minimize it.
Anyway...the one good thing I see coming out of this shift is that there may actually be more good movies to see in theaters in February. That is, assuming theaters are open by then (I, too, worry about a second wave, and possibly a third, unless/until a vaccine is found.
Amory I did some double checking after seeing your comment -- i think what they're referring to is the paperwork for submission that films have to do to be considered (there's always an end date with that before the end date of when you have to release. Because the eligibility period is until the end of February.
What's with everyone getting so emotional about Nathanial being emotional? Every time people moan that a certain film did or did not get an Oscar or a nomination/make enough money/get a sequel/get remade, one could say: "but the starving children!" If that's your attitude, why even come to this site?
Everyone I wrote an absurdly long reaction to the pile-on and it's probably for the better that it didn't post. ;) I was feeling defensive and obviously that's never a good look. Let it suffice to say that I was having a truly terrible night when I wrote this (depressive despair and real life/terrible -- not "my beloved oscars won't be the same" privileged/terrible) and I admit it comes off a bit petulant.
Mea culpa.
Still, I do ask that you think long and hard about the way you behave in this comments section. If you truly want to make the world a better place (which I can only hope peoplle who like to virtue signal do) you will practice the perspective, compassion, and empathy that you want to see in the world yourself. Trying to pit Team Experience against each other is not a good look on you. It's bullying and "negging" and toxic.
Good diss! I admit I laughed at myself with that one.S Bob wrote
My post was swallowed by the internet, so sorry if this is a kind of repost.
My reaction to this article? Oh come on people, Nathaniel is using "terrible" in the context of films and movie awards for cripes sake. He's not saying this is terrible in the real world. Everyone knows the world is full of suffering and misery, but if someone wants to whine a little bit about something that upsets them, so be it. It's like road rage or battling bureaucracy. A small frustration that can really annoy you.
And my reaction to this news? Eh, whatever. We always knew that the 2020 Oscars would come with an asterisk, we just didn't know what it might entail. Now we know it will not only say that streaming movies were temporarily allowed but that the film "year" was extended.
And of course, 2021 will now have an asterisk but we don't know what that will mean. A ten month window of films allowed? Movie theaters not allowed to open? Civil War when Trump refuses to leave office? Could be anything at this point.
They are not going to have a show if the stars have to wear a mask
As an Oscar geek, I love the trivia with which you end this piece. Let's hope the next Best Picture winner isn't another CAVALCADE-esque disaster.
For the people bringing up my name to pile on Nathaniel, please keep me out of this nonsense. It makes me extremely uncomfortable, to say the least. This is a blog that's always paid great attention to the Oscar race and the history of the Academy Awards. That's one of the reasons why I love it so. Passionate reactions to the latest Oscar news are to be expected in here, and in no way does that mean there aren't more important things in the world.
The Americans ruined the Baftas with their money. Hate them!
I agree with Nathaniel (sorry I misspelled your name before) that it would have been weird in a very interesting/fun way had they just stuck to their 2020-only policy. I would have loved to see, say, a couple of little Kino Lorber films get into the ten best picture slots. "And the nominees are: BACURAU, MARTIN EDEN, FOURTEEN.... or some truly inspired cinematography nods: THE WILD GOOSE LAKE, BEANPOLE, ZOMBI CHILD.
Sorry, last time I checked this is still Nathaniel’s site? He had a bad personal day and needed to express that frustration. Plus, as he said, this IS an Oscar site so this news is relevant to him and other readers. Some other bloggers are much more petulant and they will even tell you not to visit their site if you don’t like what they wrote. With all the crap that’s going on around the world, sometimes we do need a little distraction, and we definitely need to be supportive to each other (except for the racists).
And go watch Parks and Recreation, the government officials in Pawnee are the ideal people we need in this crazy world :)
I feel you Nathaniel, and i am Sorry that you felt attacked by the comments, including mine. The way you are so passionate about Oscars and the movies is the reason i came tô this site in the first place. I wish you a good and serene day