Which rules, exactly? Well for starters, there’s Rule Two (always two, there are), which required that a film be shown in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County for a theatrical qualifying run of at least seven consecutive days, during which period screenings must occur at least three times daily.
Now, since theaters have been closed since March, the Academy will be allowing movies on streaming or VOD services to be allowed for consideration.
HOWEVER (c’mon, you knew that there’s a “however” coming, better yet, here’s TWO):
1. The film must be made available on the secure, members-only Academy Screening Room streaming site, within sixty days of the film’s streaming or VOD release
2. The film must meet all other eligibility requirements.
As they look toward a tentative future of reopened movie theaters on a national scale, the Academy plans on reverting back to the “old” Rule Two, and people can finally go back to arguing about The Irishman again, quod natura anima.
But... Oscar giveth, and Oscar taketh away: in some weird flex of arbitrary skullduggery, they’ve also decided to combine the categories of Sound Mixing and Sound Editing into one award, no doubt to the annoyance of (already criminally under-appreciated) mixers and editors everywhere. Sadly, this rule is likely permanent.
So far, the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony is still set to go foreword on February 28, 2021, but who knows?
Check back with The Movie Sleuth for more updates, thems is the RULES.