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As a result of the global pandemic, the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony has been pushed back from Feb. 28 to April 25, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and its Oscars broadcasting partner ABC announced.
The Academy Awards were due to take place on 28 February next year but have now been put back until 25 April.
In a statement, the Academy indicated that the Oscars will still be held “at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood” and “will air live on ABC,” an apparent rejection of the possibility of a pre-taped and/or virtual gathering. And the Academy emphasized, “The intent going forward is to ultimately return to awarding excellence for films released in the January-December calendar year.”
A number of other major changes were also announced.
The Oscar submission deadline for general entry categories — among them best picture, original score and original song — is now Jan. 15, 2021. The submission deadline for specialty categories — best animated feature, documentary feature, international feature, animated short, documentary short and live-action short — is now Dec. 1, 2020. Oscar shortlist voting will now run from Feb. 1 through Feb. 5; nomination voting will now run from March 5 through March 10 (nominations will be announced on March 15); and final voting will now run from April 15 through April 20.
Organisers have also agreed to extend the eligibility window beyond 31 December 2020 to the end of February.
Next year’s British Academy Film Awards (Baftas) have been pushed back to 11 April, keeping in line with the Oscars.
The pandemic has already halted work on a number of films which were due to be released by the end of the year.
Here is a full breakdown of the revised key dates related to the 93rd Academy Awards and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures…
Preliminary voting begins
Monday, February 1, 2021
Preliminary voting ends
Friday, February 5, 2021
Oscar Shortlists Announcement
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Nominations voting begins
Friday, March 5, 2021
Nominations voting ends
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Oscar Nominations Announcement
Monday, March 15, 2021
Oscar Nominees Luncheon
Thursday April 15, 2021
Finals voting begins
Thursday April 15, 2021
Museum Gala
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Finals voting ends
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Oscars
Sunday, April 25, 2021
Museum Public Opening
Friday, April 30, 2021.