The membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences now spans the globe more extensively than ever before. Yet, the largest concentration of voters, by a wide margin, continues to reside in and around Southern California — roughly 6,000 out of the 10,000 members — a region currently in the throes of devastating, uncontrollable wildfires.
In a compassionate response to the numerous members whose lives have been turned upside down by this catastrophe, The Hollywood Reporter has learned that the Academy has decided to extend the Oscar nomination voting window. The window, which originally commenced at 9 a.m. PT on Wednesday morning and was slated to conclude at 5 p.m. PT on Sunday evening, will now be extended until 5 p.m. PT on Tuesday, January 14. Consequently, the announcement of the Oscar nominations has been postponed from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 19.
Here's the heartfelt message from the Academy:
Dear Academy Members,
Our deepest condolences go out to those who have been affected by the ravaging fires sweeping through Southern California. Many of our members and industry peers call the Los Angeles area their home and workplace, and our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Given the ongoing fire situation, we want to share some important updates regarding adjustments to the Oscars nomination voting window, as well as pertinent information concerning Oscars Shortlist Screenings, Oscars Bake-Offs, and the Academy Museum.
The nominations voting for the 97th Academy Awards commenced this morning at 9 a.m. PT. In consideration of the members' challenges, we have decided to extend the voting window by two days to afford you more time to cast your votes. Voting will now terminate on Tuesday, January 14 at 5 p.m. PT.
As a result, the Oscars Nominations Announcement has been rescheduled from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 19. Further details about the announcement will be communicated soon.
The International Feature Film Shortlist Screening, originally planned for this evening in Los Angeles, has been postponed to later this week. Shortlist screenings will proceed as scheduled in New York and London. Notably, all 15 shortlisted films in the International Feature Film category are accessible on the Academy Screening Room (ASR).
The in-person Los Angeles Sound Branch Bake-Off scheduled for Saturday, January 11 has been canceled. The Sound Bake-Off schedules in the Bay Area, London, and New York remain unchanged. Please note that the Sound Bake-Off will be accessible to all members via the ASR.
Similarly, the in-person Los Angeles and New York Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Bake-Offs scheduled for Saturday, January 11 have been canceled. Members of the Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch are cordially invited to engage in a virtual discussion with the designated nominees on Saturday, January 11. Further details will be forthcoming. Please note that Bake-Off clips of the shortlisted films are available on the ASR.
The in-person Los Angeles and Bay Area Visual Effects Branch Bake-Offs scheduled for Saturday, January 11 have also been canceled. Members of the Visual Effects Branch are invited to join a virtual discussion with the designated nominees on the same day. Further details will be provided shortly. Bake-Off clips of the shortlisted films can be viewed on the ASR.
Lastly, the Academy Museum is closed today, Wednesday, January 8. All screenings have been rescheduled. For more information, please visit www.academymuseum.org.
Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time. We sincerely hope everyone remains safe.
Bill Kramer
CEO
