Oscar Nominations and Voting Period Postponed Again Amid Los Angeles Wildfires

The Oscar nominations announcement, for the second time, has been postponed as wildfires continue ravaging Los Angeles, and the nominations voting period has been extended until Friday. The nominations announcement is now bound to take place Jan. 23 at 5:30 a.m. P.T.

It will be a virtual event without in-person media coverage, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday. The Academy revealed that it still plans to hold the Oscars ceremony on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The wildfires, fueled by exceptionally dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, have killed at least 24 people and swept through 40,000 acres in the Los Angeles area. This weekend, evacuation orders for the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, expanded, It was 14% contained as of Monday morning and threatens Brentwood, Encino, and Westwood.

In a joint statement, Academy Chief Executive Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed their devastation over the impact of the fire and the losses incurred by the community. They emphasized they Academy’s role as a unifying force in the film industry and their sheer commitment to standing together during these trying times.

As part of the scheduling changes, the Academy also said the annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon, which was schedule for Feb. 10, will not be held this year. The Scientific and Technical Awards, initially schedule for Feb. 18, “will be rescheduled to a later date yet to be determined.”

“Our members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community, and we are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry,” Kramer and Yang said.

“We also look forward to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts. We will get through this together and bring a sense of healing to our global film community.”

Dozens of critically acclaimed films and performances encapsulate this year’s awards contenders, which include- Sean Baker’s dramedy “Anora” with Mikey Madison, Jon M. Chus’ blockbuster musical “Wicked’ with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and Edward Berger’s religious thriller “Conclave” with Ralph Fiennes- all expected to be among nominees.

The 97th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will be aired live coast-to-coast at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. on ABC and streamed live on Hulu. It will also air live in more than 200 territories worldwide.

Tags

Alex Blige is a bestselling author and expert on various topics. With over a decade of experience in the field, Alex has helped thousands of people achieve their goals and improve their lives. With a degree in computer science and a background in journalism, Alex brings a unique perspective to his work. He has written several blogs on topics ranging from mindfulness to productivity, and is a sought-after speaker and coach.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.