Film Academy To Decide On Postponing Oscars In 2021 Due To COVID-19

KEY POINTS

If the Film Academy is to have its way on awarding the films for this cycle, the 2021 Oscars would be cancelled to a later date. The 93rd Academy Awards has been scheduled on Feb. 28, 2021, but due to the current coronavirus pandemic, cinemas have failed to show films.

According to Fox News, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences will come to a decision on which night the Oscars be held. Reports say that the postponement of the Oscars in 2021 is highly “likely” since the movie industry had been heavily affected by the health crisis. No other dates have been set, with the 28th of February still the date displayed at ABC's Oscars listing.

A message from Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson aimed to provide an explanation to the postponement. They said that they’re following the trend surrounding the global pandemic, which “necessitates” the temporary cancellation of the event and its rescheduling to a date when the pandemic may be over.

In stark contrast, the film industry in Europe may be restarting earlier than the American market. According to Cineuropa, cinemas in Europe were halted as well, with authorities implementing social distancing guidelines and encouraging people to shelter-in-place. However, most European cities appear to be easing up these restrictions and most production teams are picking up.

Film festivals are also set to resume. In Belgium, for instance, the 3rd Brussels International Film Festival has moved from its original dates from June 24 to July 4 to new a cycle from Sept. 3 to 13. Meanwhile, the Brussels Short Film Festival has also set a new date moving its series of film festivals from the original April 22 to May 3 to a new schedule on Sept. 2 to 12.

In the same fashion, the “new normal” may see the Oscars holding their own awards ceremony some months or maybe even a year after February 2021. According to Rubin, they “know” that film must be celebrated, but they don’t know how to do it amid an ongoing battle against COVID-19.