The updated rules come after the Academy in April announced that movies that had “previously planned theatrical releases” can qualify for Oscars without the typical Los Angeles qualifying run, but the film “must be made available on the secure Academy Screening Room member-only streaming site within 60 days of the film’s streaming or VOD release.”

Here’s the official word, as posted on the Academy’s website: The rule change comes as theaters have been allowed to reopen in many areas across the US. However, indoor theaters remain closed in New York City and Los Angeles, where many Academy voters live. And Regal Cinemas announced this week that it planned to temporarily shutter its 536 locations in the US, signaling that with few movies to show, movie theaters are far from out of the woods during the pandemic.

  1. Films which are intended for theatrical release, but are initially made available through commercial streaming, VOD service or other broadcast may qualify under these provisions: • That the film be made available on the secure Academy Screening Room member site within 60 days of the film’s streaming/VOD release or broadcast; • That it meets all other eligibility requirements OR
  2. Films that open in theaters in at least one of the six qualifying U.S. cities, depending on theater availability, may qualify under these provisions: • That the film completes a qualifying run of at least seven consecutive days in the same commercial venue, during which period screenings must occur at least three times daily, with at least one screening beginning between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily • That it meets all other eligibility requirements • Six qualifying U.S. cities include: Los Angeles County; City of New York [Five Boroughs]; the Bay Area [counties of San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo and Contra Costa]; Chicago [Cook County, Illinois]; Miami [Miami-Dade County, Florida]; and Atlanta [Fulton County, Georgia]. • Drive-in theaters are included as a qualifying commercial venue in the above cities (must run for seven consecutive days with at least one screening daily) • Academy Screening Room would be optional Related This Year, There Are Two Movies Made by Women with a Shot at Both Best Picture and Director Oscar Noms 2023 Brings a Diverse Set of Oscar Contenders. Will the Final Nominees Reflect that? Related 51 Directors’ Favorite Horror Movies: Bong Joon Ho, Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo del Toro, and More 23 Controversial Film and TV Book Adaptations That Rankled Their Audiences and Authors
    Drive-in theaters in Los Angeles County include the Vineland in the City of Industry, which has hosted numerous industry events during the pandemic. The Oscars ceremony for the 2020-21 season is scheduled for April 25, 2021, an unusually late date due to the pandemic. The eligibility window includes films released between January 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.