In the latest effort to address the changing exhibition environment, the Motion Picture Academy announced Wednesday new rules expanding the theater requirements for films to qualify for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards.
New rules, approved by the group’s 54-member board of directors, require films to exceed current requirements (one week of theatrical release in any of six eligible U.S. cities) to enter the contest. We need to continue showing. for the best photos. Film must now have seven consecutive or non-consecutive theatrical showings in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets within 45 days of first release in 2024 (non-U.S. regions) Publishing in ) counts as 2 of those 10 markets)
This extended theatrical screening for Best Picture nominees must be completed by January 24th at the latest. Qualifications in other categories are not affected by this requirement. The move follows the Academy’s early adoption of new selection criteria for Best Picture nominees, which are also due to come into effect next year.
“On an annual basis, we review and evaluate the theater eligibility requirements for the Oscars,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement. “In support of our mission to celebrate and celebrate the art and science of filmmaking, this expanded theater reach will increase the visibility of cinema worldwide and allow audiences to experience our art form in a theatrical environment. Based on our many conversations with our industry partners, we feel this evolution will benefit film artists and film enthusiasts alike.”
The change marks the Academy’s latest attempt to address the shift of viewers to streaming as companies like Netflix, Amazon and Apple continue to focus on awards campaigns. But while expanding theater requirements should be relatively easy for well-financed streamers, smaller independents must compete for extra space in a shrinking arthouse landscape. For cinema and international cinema, it can end up being more troublesome.
Indie filmmakers will suddenly (as early as January) enter the expanded theater business, and big streamers may be able to afford to buy the number of screenings they need in the additional market, but will suffer. may be traditional independent distributors.
“My heart goes out to young filmmakers who may find it difficult to reach 10 markets,” says veteran advertising director Melody Colenbro. “They’re going to need someone to help them get past these new rules, or they’re going to need tons of credit cards.”
Colenbrough, which handles the release and award campaigns for numerous independent distributors, including Sony Pictures Classics, also finds it difficult to book theaters in the top 50 markets during this time of high-profile movie screenings. I see it as possible. Titles from the studio also appear one after another.
“The battle for space is going to be tough,” she says.
“Is this another response to the whole Andrea Riseborough case?” asked a spokesperson when informed of the new rules. The director of Riseborough earlier this year noted a surprise Oscar nomination for the lead actress in the low-budget indie film To Leslie, which was not eligible for Best Picture under revised guidelines. However, the criteria apply only to the Best Picture category, so Riseborough should still be considered.
Some hailed the rule change as a sign of the Academy’s commitment to the centrality of the theatrical exhibition in the art form.
“It’s a statement, but it’s important,” said an executive at a specialized distribution company, noting that streaming services like Netflix and Amazon would have no problem funding a theatrical release in 10 cities. bottom. “It seals the legitimacy and value of the theatrical presentation.”
The executive added that he believed the new rules would be “flexible enough for independent distributors to respond.”
“We’ve had conversations like this with the Academy over the years: ‘How can we get around people who do the bare minimum just to qualify and never actually get a theatrical release?’ Is it?’” said the indie executive. “This can address that problem to some extent.”
