The Academy’s Board of Governors has approved awards rules and campaign promotional regulations for the 97th Academy Awards.
For Academy Awards consideration, a feature film must have a qualifying theatrical release between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. Drive-in theaters will no longer be a means of qualification, and the six qualifying U.S. metropolitan areas will now include Dallas-Fort Worth, in addition to Los Angeles County; New York City; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; and Atlanta, Georgia.
Of special interest to Animation Magazine readers, animated feature films submitted in the International Feature Film category are now eligible for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category if eligibility requirements outlined for both categories are met. In 2022, Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee was nominated in both categories (representing Denmark in the International race) as well as for Documentary Feature Film. The only other majority-animated longform project nominated in both the International and Animation categories was Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir (Israel) in 2008.
A related change sees the eligibility period for the International Feature Film category delineated from November 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
In the Best Picture category, the expanded theatrical eligibility requirements, approved by the Board of Governors in June 2023, will take effect for the 97th Oscars. Upon completion of an initial qualifying run, currently defined as a one-week theatrical release in one of the six U.S. qualifying markets listed above, a film must meet the following additional theatrical standards for Best Picture eligibility:
- Expanded theatrical run of seven days, consecutive or non-consecutive, in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets, no later than 45 days after the initial release in 2024.
- For late-in-the-year films with expansions after January 10, 2025, distributors must submit release plans to the Academy for verification.
- Release plans for late-in-the-year films must include a planned expanded theatrical run, as described above, to be completed no later than January 24, 2025.
- Non-U.S. territory releases can count towards two of the 10 markets.
- Qualifying non-U.S. markets include the top 15 international theatrical markets plus the home territory for the film.
In addition to the theatrical eligibility requirements, eligibility for consideration in the Best Picture category remains contingent upon submission of a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) form and the film meeting the requirements of two of the four standards. Also, distributors and/or producing teams should submit for PGA Mark Certification or awards determination no later than the date of the film’s first commercial screening in its qualifying run.
Other awards rules changes include:
- In the Music (Original Score) category, three composers will be allowed to receive individual statuettes if, in rare circumstances, they all contributed fully to the score. Previously, three composers were required to submit as a group. The rules now clarify the definition of a group as a recognized band. The shortlist will increase from 15 to 20 titles.
- In the Writing categories, a final shooting script will now be required for submission.
- Changes were also made to the testimonial awards presented at the Governors Awards. The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, given to a creative producer whose body of work reflects a consistently high quality of motion picture production, will now be presented as an Oscar statuette. The definition of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was revised to clarify the broad term humanitarian efforts; the award will be “given to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities.”
- Two special awards presented at the Scientific and Technical Awards have been renamed:
- Gordon E. Sawyer Award to “Scientific and Technical Lifetime Achievement Award”
- John A. Bonner Award to “Scientific and Technical Service Award”
Submission deadlines and additional key dates are as follows:
- Thursday, August 15, 2024: First submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories
- Thursday, September 12, 2024: First submission deadline for General Entry categories, Animated Feature Film, Best Picture and RAISE form
- Wednesday, October 2, 2024: Submission deadline for International Feature Film
- Thursday, October 10, 2024: Final submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories
- Thursday, October 17, 2024: Final submission deadline for Documentary Feature Film
- Friday, November 1, 2024: Submission deadline for Music (Original Score) and Music (Original Song) categories
- Thursday, November 14, 2024: Final submission deadline for General Entry categories, Animated Feature Film, Best Picture and RAISE form
- Saturday, January 11, 2025: Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound and Visual Effects nominating screenings (bake-offs)
The Academy also updated and clarified formatting and language in the campaign promotional regulations for the 97th Oscars. The campaign promotional regulations specify how motion picture companies and individuals directly associated with Oscars-eligible motion pictures may promote such motion pictures, achievements and performances to Academy members and how Academy members may promote Oscars-eligible motion pictures, achievements and performances.
All rules and dates for the 97th Academy Awards are subject to change.
For the complete 97th Academy Awards rules and campaign promotional regulations, visit oscars.org/rules.
For information on the Inclusion Standards, visit raise.oscars.org/home.
