The changes won’t go into effect until the 85th Academy Awards in 2013, however the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has set into place new rules concerning short films and documentaries. The biggest changes have to do with an increased availability of the films for viewing purposes by Oscar voters.
Per the Academy, all members of the Documentary Branch will judge all eligible documentary films rather than just a select group of the Documentary Branch casting their votes in the first round of voting. This will mean all documentary filmmakers will be required to submit 200 DVDS of their films instead of just the 30 required in previous years. Voters will also now be allowed to watch the documentaries on digital or DVD screener instead of at a theatrical screenings.
And the Academy has added a twist to the rule of how to qualify to even be considered for a Best Documentary Oscar. Films must have a seven-day qualifying run in New York and Los Angeles (that have to be advertised in one major newspaper in NY and LA), and – this is the twist – a review of the film must run in The New York Times and/or the Los Angeles Times. Wow, that’s a bizarre wrench to throw into the process.
Screeners will also now be an option in the Animated Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories.
Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, January 13, 2012
–Posted by Rebecca Murray
Academy Passes New Documentary and Short Films Rules
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