It is common knowledge that the Academy Awards of Merit, commonly known as the Oscars, are the most awaited awards for the international film industry as they felicitate artistic and technical merit. The upcoming 97th Oscars ceremony is all set to be held on March 2, 2025.
This time around, however, the rules have been significantly tweaked. Now, up to three composers can receive individual statuettes if they all contribute to a feature’s music, unlike the previous rule that required composers to submit in a group. This is to avoid instances like when Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross, received a single statuette for their win for the animated movie ‘Soul’ in 2020.
Additionally, the shortlist in this category has been expanded from 15 to 20 titles. The names will be announced in late December before the official voting period commences in January.
The Academy will also no longer recognize drive-in theaters as a venue for Oscars eligibility, a deviation from the measure temporarily adopted in 2020 due to COVID-19. That year, the Academy had also allowed films streaming on VOD platforms to qualify.
In the screenplay categories, it is a necessity to submit the final shooting script for consideration now. Animated films eligible for the best international feature category can also be considered for the best-animated feature if they meet the requirements for both categories.
The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which recognizes a creative producer’s consistently high-quality work, will now be presented as an Oscar statuette instead of the traditional bust of Thalberg. Most importantly, for consideration at the Academy Awards, a feature film must have a qualifying theatrical release between Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024!
With numerous more altercations in the rules, stay tuned to this space to keep tabs on everything Oscar-related!
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