By Tuhin Sanzid
The 93rd Oscars awards are delayed for two months. The most femous celebrity event to have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday that the 2021 Academy Awards will now be held on April 25, instead of February 28th.
For the fourth time in its history, the Oscars awards are being postponed.
The Academy also announced that eligibility for films is extended beyond the typical December 31st date-films released between January 1st, 2020 and February 28th, 2021 will be eligible.
Academy president David Rubin said “For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us. during the darkest of times,” “They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone’s control.”
The Academy has made a flurry of announcements recently, including creating a task force to ensure that more diversity, both on-screen and behind the scenes, is represented at the Oscars. In collaboration with the Producers Guild of America, the Academy is creating a task force to “develop and implement new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility by July 31st, 2020.” Films must meet the standards in order to be eligible, but the rules won’t go into effect until the 94th Academy Awards. The Academy will also keep the Best Picture category at 10 nominees instead of fluctuating between five and 10 as it’s done over the last several years.
The 93rd Oscars awards Nominations will be announced on March 15, 2021.