Unless you’ve been living under a rock you know that the movie landscape has changed dramatically as of late, with films that were meant to be big theatrical releases instead going straight to VOD (Video On Demand) for us to watch in the comfort of our pajamas for roughly $19.99. Now this change is big in a number of ways, but one thing people haven’t heard much about is the fact that traditionally films that do not receive any sort of theatrical release are not eligible for the Academy Awards - but that has now changed. According to an official press release from Oscars.gov as it pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic dated 4/28/20, films forced to released in the digital format exclusively can qualify for the red carpet with a few eligibility requirements:
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;
The film must meet all other eligibility requirements.
Now this is HUGE news which right out of the gate benefits releases like Trolls World Tour and Scoob! which opted for VOD releases. Many other films decided to push back their release dates with many films without a date right now, so it remains to be seen whether or not this change will force other studios to change their minds as it relates to releases currently on the back burner.
Check out the full breakdown of the rule changes courtesy of Oscars.org