We’re used to watching the Oscars in late February or early March but things are going to look a little bit different next year. The 93rd Academy Awards have been moved to April 25, 2021, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Many experts predicted that the ceremony is going to be rescheduled after many highly-anticipated films postponed their theatrical release. By delaying the ceremony, the Academy is giving filmmakers two extra months to meet the eligibility requirements.
“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,” reads the Academy’s official statement.
According to the Academy’s new eligibility rules, all the movies released between January 1st, 2020 and February 28st, 2021 can compete for the Oscars. It’s unclear how this will affect the rest of the awards season, but it’s safe to expect other major ceremonies will follow suit and push back their dates.
The 2022 Oscars were expected to take place on February 27th, 2022 but the Academy said its eligibility windows and ceremony date will be announced at a later date.
