The Academy’s Board of Governors has approved new requirements for Oscars eligibility in the Best Picture category. The new rules will kick in with the 97th Academy Awards airing in early 2025 and will apply to films released in 2024.
At present, a film can qualify for a Best Picture category nomination upon completion of an initial qualifying run – currently defined as a one-week theatrical release in one of the six U.S. qualifying cities.
The new rules will see a required expansion of the theatrical footprint with a further week’s release in a significant portion of the top markets. The days of running a film for a week at some small cinema in one city appear to be over.
A film must meet the following additional theatrical standards for Best Picture eligibility:
– It must have an expanded theatrical run of seven days, consecutive or non-consecutive, in ten of the top fifty U.S. markets and no later than 45 days after the initial release in 2024.
– For late-in-the-year films with expansions after January 10th the following year, distributors must submit release plans to the Academy for verification.
– Release plans for late-in-the-year films must include a planned expanded theatrical run, as described above, to be completed no later than January 24th.
– Non-U.S. territory releases can count towards two of the 10 markets. Qualifying non-U.S. markets include the top fifteen international theatrical markets plus the home territory for the film.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang say in a joint statement:
“As we do every year, we have been reviewing and assessing our theatrical eligibility requirements for the Oscars. In support of our mission to celebrate and honor the arts and sciences of moviemaking, it is our hope that this expanded theatrical footprint will increase the visibility of films worldwide and encourage audiences to experience our artform in a theatrical setting. Based on many conversations with industry partners, we feel that this evolution benefits film artists and movie lovers alike.”
Eligibility for achievements in the various other categories will not be impacted by this requirement.
Source: Oscars.org
