The theatrical requirements for movies vying for the Oscars top prize are getting a little tougher.

Starting with the 97th in 2025, best picture hopefuls will have to spend more time in theaters to qualify for film害羞草研究所檚 top prize. The changes, announced by the of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this week, come after three years of .

On top of the current one week 害羞草研究所渜ualifying run害羞草研究所� in one of six U.S cities 害羞草研究所� New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco or Miami 害羞草研究所� best picture contenders would now must also now play for an additional seven days in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets. Additionally, there害羞草研究所檚 several other new rules about when the movies must play in theaters.

害羞草研究所淚t is our hope that this expanded theatrical footprint will increase the visibility of films worldwide and encourage audiences to experience our art form in a theatrical setting,害羞草研究所� Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement.

It害羞草研究所檚 part gesture to theaters still struggling from the pandemic, partly for audiences in markets outside of New York and Los Angeles who don害羞草研究所檛 always get theatrical access to best picture contenders, and partly a statement to deep pocketed streaming services that theaters remain paramount for Hollywood害羞草研究所檚 top prize.

The film academy害羞草研究所檚 leaders also say the decision was born out of many conversations with industry partners and that they feel that this 害羞草研究所渆volution benefits film artists and movie lovers alike.害羞草研究所�

But some in the industry questioned what it really changes, who it benefits and who it might hurt.

Michael O害羞草研究所橪eary, the President and CEO of the National Association of Theater Owners, applauded the 害羞草研究所渋mportant initiative.害羞草研究所� In a statement, O害羞草研究所橪eary said it 害羞草研究所渁ffirms that theatrical exhibition is the keystone of the industry.害羞草研究所�

For traditional studios, from the big ones like Warner Bros., Universal and Disney, to the smaller players, like A24 and Neon, behind recent best picture winners 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淧arasite,害羞草研究所� it likely affects very little.

For streaming services, it could be a case-by-case adjustment depending on the company but not a hurdle. Amazon is already planning to release every year, as they害羞草研究所檝e already done with Ben Affleck害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淎ir.害羞草研究所� on movies that will land in cinemas before streaming, including Ridley Scott害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淣apoleon.害羞草研究所�

Netflix has had a bigger theatrical footprint lately too. Not only do they control two U.S. theaters 害羞草研究所� New York害羞草研究所檚 Paris Theater and Los Angeles害羞草研究所� American Cinematheque 害羞草研究所� but they害羞草研究所檝e also historically given theatrical runs to their awards hopefuls. All of Netflix害羞草研究所檚 nominees since have met the requirement. Its , 害羞草研究所淎ll Quiet on the Western Front,害羞草研究所� played in hundreds of theaters.

The new rule may weed out the possibility of a grassroots campaign on behalf of a very small film, however. Independent theaters and those willing to play independent films have become rarer and the competition is fierce for those screens in the major markets. Some of the bigger indie stalwarts are even scheduling major studio films, leaving fewer times and screens available for true independents.

Much like the diversity requirements that went into effect this year, few could think of recent best picture players that wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have met this threshold. Apple害羞草研究所檚 best picture winner 害羞草研究所淐ODA害羞草研究所� played in about 40 theaters. Even non-traditional Oscar 害羞草研究所渦nderdogs害羞草研究所� like 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� had substantial theatrical runs.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important to consider that qualifying is merely a first step in a long process that involves robust and costly campaigning,害羞草研究所� said Dan Berger, the president of the independent film company Oscilloscope. 害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 fair to say that nearly any film that doesn害羞草研究所檛 meet these parameters never stood a chance in a best picture race anyway.害羞草研究所�

Berger added: 害羞草研究所淗opefully the result of this isn害羞草研究所檛 more robust and more costly campaigning that only serves to further divide merit based results from campaign based results.害羞草研究所�

There are a lot of unknowns about the specifics of the expansion, including whether there will be minimum of showtimes and screens. Could companies simply rent out eight screens that will play to minimal or no crowds in densely populated areas that are relatively cheap and that are also not historically great for indie films? It害羞草研究所檒l check the box, but will it help theaters, the films or audiences? And will it lead to an even greater year-end bottleneck of releases?

Questions also remain about how it will affect the eligibility of animated films and documentaries, which wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have to meet these requirements to qualify in their individual categories but now might have to adopt a different strategy to be in contention for best picture.

Others are more hopeful and know that the academy害羞草研究所檚 board of governors meet often to as the landscape continues to change.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about time that the academy made a move to recommit to theatrical. The Oscars were inching closer and closer to becoming the Emmys,害羞草研究所� said one top awards strategist and academy member who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the changes. 害羞草研究所淐ould they have gone further? Of course. But it害羞草研究所檚 a good faith step in the right direction.害羞草研究所�

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