The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the dates for 94th, 95th and 96th annual Academy Awards. They have also confirmed the controversial decision to continue without a main host for 2020. But it is something else which is causing major ramifications beyond that night. Something which affects the industry worldwide.
The new dates for the next three years are February 9, 2020, February 28, 2021 and February 27, 2022.
One date obviously sticks out. Next year’s ceremony is startlingly early. The ceremony is traditionally held on the last Sunday of the month. It changed to a week later last year, to make room for the Olympics.
Next year’s slot creates chaos for everyone else. NOBODY wants to take place after the main event. It would seem pointless. That’s why the BAFTAS moved dates back in 2002. Previously they had been held in April or May.
Now, not only other ceremonies but also potentially film release date and awards campaign strategies will all have to shift also.
An analyst explained why every other award ceremony now jostles to go before for one simple reason: “To try to muscle in and bill themselves as being predictive or precursor events. They try to add relevance to the Academy, but the Oscars is really the only big show. It’s like the Super Bowl. The teams play for months and while the games can be great, the only thing that matters is who is there in the final and who wins.”
No-one wants to admit it, but it is the simple truth.
The BAFTAs 2020 have moved already from February 16 back to February 2.
As for the decision to go without a host…
The ceremony is broadcast every year on ABC. Entertainment boss Karey Burke said: “I believe we will not mess with that format to the best of our ability.”
Last year, host Kevin Hart was immediately dropped after old homophobic tweets were made public. Other potential replacements declined to step in and the broadcast went ahead, to generally favourable reviews, without a host.
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