Yahoo Movies Oscars makes major changes following Andrea Riseborough controversy
The Oscars has confirmed some major changes to its rules following the controversy over Andrea Riseborough's nomination this year.
The actress got a surprise Best Actress nod at this year's Academy Awards despite her film To Leslie going largely under the radar. It came after a last-minute grassroots campaign, with a number of celebrities praising her performance on social media beforehand.
The nomination sparked a big conversation about awards campaigning and whether rules were broken, though the Academy decided not to revoke her nod in the end.
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However, in the wake of the backlash, the Academy has announced some new rules for next year's Oscars.
One point around Riseborough's campaign was the use of private screenings by Actors Branch members for other Oscars voters, and going forward the Academy will officially recognise them.
However, they won't be recognised as official For Your Consideration events, and so movie companies will not be able to fund, organise or endorse them.
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Rules around social media, which played a big part in Riseborough's campaign, have also been revised, with Academy members now no longer able to use it to discuss voting preferences, decisions, strategies or eligibility requirements.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer previously promised that the rules would be reviewed, saying in February: "The purpose of the Academy’s campaign regulations is to ensure a fair and ethical awards process—these are core values of the Academy.
"Given this review, it is apparent that components of the regulations must be clarified to help create a better framework for respectful, inclusive, and unbiased campaigning.
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"These changes will be made after this awards cycle and will be shared with our membership. The Academy strives to create an environment where votes are based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible films and achievements."
This year's Oscars saw Everything Everywhere All at Once walk home as the big winner, winning seven awards including Best Picture and Best Actress for Michelle Yeoh.
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