The wildfires affecting Los Angeles have disrupted the film awards season, particularly the Oscars, whose nominations were originally set to be announced on January 17. Due to the severity of the situation, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences initially postponed the announcement to Sunday, January 19.
However, another delay has been confirmed, with the nominations now expected to be revealed four days later. “Due to the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area, we believe it is necessary to extend the voting period and reschedule the date of our nominations announcement to provide additional time for our members,” the Academy stated in a press release. They confirmed that the Oscar nominations will now be announced on Thursday, January 23, at 1:30 PM GMT.
They also announced that the Oscar nominees luncheon, planned for Monday, February 10, will not be held this year. On a positive note, the voting period for Academy members has been extended until Friday, February 17. The Academy further clarified that ‘the nominations will be announced during a virtual event with no in-person media coverage.’
“The Academy’s thoughts and deepest condolences are with our fellow members and colleagues who have been impacted by the Los Angeles-area fires,” they shared on social media. They also announced a partnership with the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF). This organization provides support and care to people in the film and TV industry with limited or no resources, to assist those impacted by the disaster.
The tragedy has already scorched 15,000 hectares since January 7 and claimed 24 lives. Despite the devastation, the 97th Academy Awards remain scheduled for March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in California.
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