4:05 PM PDT, October 7, 2020With coronavirus regulations restricting movie releases around world, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced an important change for the upcoming: drive-in screenings will count toward a film's eligibility at the 93rd Academy Awards.
The Academy's Board of Governors initially made rule changes this past spring in response to theater closures, allowing Oscars-hopeful films unable to screen in theaters to qualify via the Academy Screening Room website. With the gradual reopening of theaters around the world, an addendum was added to clarify the two methods for qualification in the Best Picture and general entry categories moving forward through the end of this awards year -- which will conclude on Feb. 28, 2021.
ET can confirm that on Oct. 6, the Board passed an additional addendum to Awards Rule 2 regarding eligibility, stating that drive-in theaters will qualify as a commercial venue for awards-eligible screenings.1.
2. Films may qualify with a traditional theatrical release, completing a seven-day run in one of six qualifying cities , screening at least three times daily, with at least one screening between 6 pm and 10 pm daily. Additionally, drive-in theaters in these cities will now qualify as a commercial venue, however, the screening requirement will be adjusted from three times daily to once daily.