The Academy Awards, for the first time in 40 years, has postponed the ceremony of the most coveted award in the film industry.
The postponement was made as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the new date for the ceremony is 25th April, 2021.
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In a joint statement by Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson, the ceremony originally billed for February 28, 2021, will also allow for an extension of its eligibility period.
“For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times. They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone’s control”.
The eligibility window has now been extended to February 28, 2021.