New Oscar rules increase requirements for competing for the award

Hollywood Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this Wednesday (21) a new rule that will have an impact on the competition for the coveted Best Picture award at the Oscars from 2024 onwards. According to information from The Hollywood Reporter, the change establishes that films competitors must remain in theaters for an additional period of seven days, in at least 10 of the 50 largest cities in the United States, in addition to the already mandatory first seven days.

Although the changes have been announced now, they will only come into effect from 2025, at the renowned event that is recognized worldwide as the highest honor in the field of film production. It is worth noting that the additional seven days do not have to be immediately after the first week of airing, but cannot occur more than 45 days after the original release. This change will have a significant impact on the distribution plans of streaming platforms, independent distributors and foreign films.

_{2023 Oscar winners (Photo: reproduction/Frederic J. Brown/AFP)}

Academy leaders Bill Kramer and Janet Yang explained the intent behind the new awards rules: “Our hope is that the new rules will increase the visibility of films around the world, encouraging audiences to frequent movie theaters. Based on conversations with several industry partners, we feel this decision benefits artists and film lovers alike. “

The change in Oscar rules reflects the constant evolution of the film industry and the growing impact of streaming platforms. With the increase in consumption of digital content and the popularity of services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, the Academy seeks to balance the competition between productions released directly on these platforms and those shown in traditional cinemas. The decision also aims to preserve the cinematic experience on the big screens in cinemas, encouraging the public to enjoy productions in their most immersive form, while at the same time recognizing the importance of new forms of film distribution and consumption.

The 96th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 10, 2024, at the prestigious Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, United States. The list of first finalists will be announced on December 21st, while the finalists will be announced on January 23rd, 2024, on a Tuesday.

Featured photo: Oscar statuette. Reproduction/Frederic J. Brown/AFP