Oscar Nominations Delayed, Voting Extended Due to LA Fires

Los Angeles: The recent wildfires in Southern California have significantly impacted social life, reaching into the entertainment sector as well.

The Academy has extended the deadline for Oscar nomination voting by two days due to the ongoing fires. Voting for the nearly 10,000 Academy members commenced on January 8 and was initially set to conclude on January 12, as reported by ‘Variety’.

The new deadline is now January 14. Additionally, the announcement for the nominations, which was originally planned for January 17, has been rescheduled to January 19.

According to ‘Variety’, Conan O’Brien is set to host the Oscars in 2025, which will take place on March 2. The Academy communicated the schedule changes to its members on Wednesday afternoon through an email from CEO Bill Kramer.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California,” the email stated. “Many of our members and colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles region, and our thoughts are with you.”

The International Feature Shortlist Screening slated for Wednesday night in Los Angeles has been postponed to later in the week. Moreover, the in-person Bake-Off events for the Los Angeles Sound Branch and the Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch, both scheduled for January 11 in Los Angeles and New York City, have been canceled. The Visual Effects Branch Bake-Offs, also planned for January 11 in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, have similarly been called off.

This extension of the voting period coincides with the cancellation or postponement of numerous premieres and events in the Los Angeles area due to the severe fires. Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Pictures were among the first to cancel their premieres of ‘Unstoppable’ and ‘Wolf Man,’ originally set for Tuesday night. In the meantime, Paramount and Max also scrapped their Wednesday premieres of ‘Better Man’ and ‘The Pitt.’