Over the past 24 hours, there has been a lot of discussion and speculation within the filmmaking industry following the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ announcement that the requirements for a film to be eligible for the best picture Oscar will be expanded starting in 2024. Many people in Hollywood are debating the impact of these changes and whether they will actually bring about any significant differences.
One recurring sentiment among industry insiders is that the new inclusion standards, which now require films to meet certain criteria to be eligible for best picture, may not truly change much because the requirements are easily met. The consensus seems to be that while the Academy may be trying to support movie theaters and highlight the distinction between films made for the big screen and those made for streaming platforms, the existing films from streamers that have been serious contenders or nominees for best picture would have already met these new requirements. This includes films like Amazon’s “Sound of Metal” and Apple’s “CODA,” as well as the nine best picture nominated films from Netflix. These films had already screened in multiple markets and theaters around the world.
While streamers acknowledge that they will need to screen their films in more theaters than they might have otherwise, they also see the new requirements as an opportunity. They believe that it will allow them to focus on promoting films that have a genuine chance of receiving recognition, rather than pursuing qualifying releases for films that may lack competitive potential. By raising general awareness of their films and generating buzz within the zeitgeist, streamers hope to ensure that their movies reach voters for award consideration. They may even seek partnerships with independent theater chains like Alamo Drafthouse to fulfill the requirement of screening in one theater in certain cities.
There was initial concern that the Academy’s new requirements might negatively impact art house distributors, who may not have the financial resources to release films on such a broad scale. However, those within the industry believe that a thriving theatrical moviegoing climate would benefit all distributors, regardless of size. They argue that having more popular and widely screened movies would attract more people to theaters, resulting in increased footfall and revenue. The general sentiment is that this change will not have a significant impact except for smaller distributors like Strand Releasing.
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Another concern was raised about non-English-language films, which have gained increased recognition in recent years. Films such as “Roma,” “Parasite,” and “Minari” have been applauded for their achievements, with “Parasite” becoming the first non-English-language film to win the best picture Oscar. However, it appears that these films and others like them would have met the new requirements for best picture eligibility, alleviating concerns that non-English-language films would be disproportionately affected.
One particular type of film that may face a higher hurdle under the new requirements is documentary features. While no documentary feature has ever been nominated for the best picture Oscar, some have come close. However, apart from a few films like “Hoop Dreams” and “Fahrenheit 9/11,” very few documentaries have received wide theatrical distribution. This suggests that breaking the glass ceiling for documentary features in the future may still be a challenge.
In summary, while the total number of films eligible for the best picture Oscar may decrease slightly under the new requirements, it is unlikely that any film with a genuine chance of receiving a nomination would be excluded. The changes seem to have a minimal impact on streamers, who already had films that met the new criteria. The requirements may actually improve their ability to generate interest and awareness for their films. Art house distributors may also benefit from a more vibrant movie theater industry, as it would attract more audiences to cinemas. Non-English-language films and documentary features are not likely to be disproportionately affected by the new requirements.
