The Oscars, BAFTA, Film Independent Spirit Awards, have all pushed back their original scheduled dates ticked for the 2021 award season as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Oscars will now take place on April 25, 2021 two months away from the previous planned date February 28. Its eligibility window for film submissions into the general categories such as best picture, best original score and best original song has been extended to January 15, 2021. Specialty categories such as best animated feature, documentary feature, international feature, animated short, documentary short and live-action short, have a new submission deadline for December 1, 2020.
Voting processes have also been affected with the change of dates. Shortlist voting will now take effect from February 1 to February 5, nomination voting will start from March 5 through to March 10, nomination announcement will be held on March 15 and the voting confirming the big night winners will commence from April 15 to April 20.
Also, the annual Governors Award that has been a recognized evening on the Academy’s calendar since 2009 will not take place this year. The Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards presentation has also been moved from June 20, 2020 to a later date yet-to-be disclosed.
“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. This coming Oscars and the opening of our new museum will mark an historic moment, gathering movie fans around the world to unite through cinema,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson in a released statement.
London’s biggest night in film, BAFTAs has also resulted in changes in date of ceremony to provide ample time for filmmakers to submit their films for consideration on the nomination score board. The event will now be held on April 11, 2021, two weeks ahead of the Oscars.
“This change from the previously announced date of Feb. 14 acknowledges the impact of the global pandemic and accommodates an extended eligibility period. Further details on the ceremony will be announced later in the year,” said BAFTA in a statement on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is sticking to its longtime tradition of taking place a day before the Oscars. As a result of the Academy’s push back to April 25, the FISA is now scheduled for Saturday, April 24.
“The Film Independent Spirit Awards will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Additionally, we will recognize films that were released between Jan. 1, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021 in acknowledgement of the unique challenges the world of cinema, and the world as a whole, is currently experiencing,” Josh Welsh, the president of Film Independent, said in a statement.
The Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards are yet-to-announce whether they are going by their original planned dates or will make changes too.
