Academy extends Oscars voting deadline and delays nominations amid Los Angeles wildfires
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced adjustments to the 97th Oscars schedule in response to the severe wildfires affecting Southern California. To accommodate members impacted by the disaster, the Academy has extended the nominations voting period and postponed the announcement of nominees.
Originally scheduled to close on January 12, nominations voting will now remain open until January 14 at 5 PM Pacific Time. The announcement of nominees, initially planned for January 17, has been rescheduled to January 19. Further updates regarding the announcement will be provided in due course.
The Academy has also revised several in-person events. The International Feature Film shortlist screening, set to take place in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, will be rescheduled for later this week. Screenings in New York and London will proceed as planned, and all shortlisted films in the category remain available on the Academy Screening Room (ASR).
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Sound Branch Bake-Off, initially scheduled for January 11, has been canceled. Similar events in New York, London, and the Bay Area remain unaffected. Clips from the bake-offs will be made accessible via ASR, ensuring members can participate remotely.
Other adjustments include the cancellation of the in-person Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Bake-Offs in Los Angeles and New York, which have been replaced with virtual discussions. Similarly, the Visual Effects Branch Bake-Offs in Los Angeles and the Bay Area will now be conducted online.
The Academy Museum, which closed its doors on Wednesday, has also rescheduled its screenings.
Expressing sympathy for those affected, Academy CEO Bill Kramer remarked, "We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you."
The 97th Oscars ceremony remains on track to take place on March 2. Further details about the rescheduled events and nominations will be shared as they become available.