We’re approaching the end of a very singular awards season. And after a year of socially distanced stars accepting prizes from their living rooms in pajamas and being accidentally muted, we’re waiting for the grandest event of them all: the Academy Awards. The Oscars will be celebrating its 93rd edition this Sunday, April 25, and the Academy has decided to forego the whole Zoom version of the ceremony and hold an in-person event.
Wondering what to expect from what’s typically one of the most-watched red carpet events around? Here’s everything we know about how Hollywood will honor the biggest movies of 2020.
What Are the Oscars Actually Going to Look Like?
Forget about the inventive — but not necessarily dynamic — Emmys ceremony from September of last year. Forget about a Golden Globes celebration plagued by technical difficulties. Even forget about Billie Eilish’s ensemble of matching top, hat and mask at the Grammys. The Oscars 2021 are going to look completely different.
Three days after the nominations were announced, on March 18, the producers of this year’s Academy Awards — filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins — sent an email to all the nominees. It detailed “an intimate, in-person event at Union Station in Los Angeles, with additional show elements live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.”
“Of course, your first thought is CAN THAT BE DONE SAFELY? The answer is YES, IT CAN. We are treating the event as an active movie set, with specially designed testing cadences to ensure up-to-the-minute results, including an on-site COVID safety team with PCR testing capability. There will be specific instructions for those of you traveling in from outside of Los Angeles, and other instructions for those of you who are already based in Los Angeles,” the email explained.
Apparently, the Oscars’ Zoom Edition is not an option. “There will not be an option to Zoom in for the show,” the email added. “We are going to great lengths to provide a safe and ENJOYABLE evening for all of you in person, as well as for all the millions of film fans around the world, and we feel the virtual thing will diminish those efforts.”
Since several nominees are based outside of the United States and there are travel restrictions still in place because of COVID-19 — as well as a surge of cases in Europe — the Academy has made some concessions. They added hubs in places like London and Paris so that nominees can participate there in person. In total there will be 20 satellite locations around the world with the objective being to get every nominee in front of a television camera in one of those places.
Also, don’t expect the audience members at Union Station in Los Angeles to wear masks. The Academy is treating the awards as if it was the production of a movie or a TV show. It’s even referring to the show’s presenters as the “ensemble cast.” So far these are the confirmed stars who’ll be joining the Oscars as presenters: Riz Ahmed, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Bong Joon-ho, Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, Laura Dern, Harrison Ford, Regina King, Marlee Matlin, Rita Moreno, Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Renée Zellweger, Steven Yeun and Zendaya.
The changes don’t end there. Producers Soderbergh, Sher and Collins are taking the challenge of offering an engaging show very seriously. “Our plan is that this year’s Oscars will look like a movie, not a television show,” said the producers in a statement.
In a recent interview, the director of this year’s Oscar ceremony, Glenn Weiss, talked about being in a very different place from previous editions, saying, “It’s just a completely different take that doesn’t really leave room for comparison to little bits that might have been done in the past.”
The Academy has also announced that they’ll be presenting an honorary award to filmmaker Tyler Perry in recognition of his career.
Oscars 2021: Full List of Nominations
Whether you’re wondering about this year’s surprises and snubs or looking to prep your awards show predictions, check out the full list of 2021 Oscar nominees all in one place.
Performance by an actor in a leading role:
- Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
- Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
- Anthony Hopkins, The Father
- Gary Oldman, Mank
- Steven Yeun, Minari
Performance by an actor in a supporting role:
- Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
- Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
- Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami…
- Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
- LaKeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah
Performance by an actress in a leading role:
- Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
- Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
- Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
- Frances McDormand, Nomadland
- Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Performance by an actress in a supporting role:
- Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
- Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
- Olivia Colman, The Father
- Amanda Seyfried, Mank
- Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
Best animated feature:
- Onward, Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae
- Over the Moon, Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou
- A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley
- Soul, Pete Docter and Dana Murray
- Wolfwalkers, Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants
Achievement in cinematography:
- Judas and the Black Messiah, Sean Bobbitt
- Mank, Erik Messerschmidt
- News of the World, Dariusz Wolski
- Nomadland, Joshua James Richards
- The Trial of the Chicago 7, Phedon Papamichael
Achievement in costume design:
- Emma., Alexandra Byrne
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth
- Mank, Trish Summerville
- Mulan, Bina Daigeler
- Pinocchio, Massimo Cantini Parrini
Achievement in directing:
- Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
- Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
- David Fincher, Mank
- Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round
- Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Best documentary feature:
- Collective, Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana
- Crip Camp, Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
- The Mole Agent, Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez
- My Octopus Teacher, Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
- Time, Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn
Best documentary short subject:
- Colette, Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard
- A Concerto Is a Conversation, Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
- Do Not Split, Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook
- Hunger Ward, Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman
- A Love Song for Latasha, Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan
Achievement in film editing:
- The Father, Yorgos Lamprinos
- Nomadland, Chloé Zhao
- Promising Young Woman, Frédéric Thoraval
- Sound of Metal, Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
- The Trial of the Chicago 7, Alan Baumgarten
Best international feature film of the year:
- Another Round (Denmark)
- Better Days (Hong Kong)
- Collective (Romania)
- The Man Who Sold His Skin (Tunisia)
- Quo Vadis, Aida? (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Achievement in makeup and hairstyling:
- Emma., Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze
- Hillbilly Elegy, Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
- Mank, Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff
- Pinocchio, Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original score):
- Da 5 Bloods, Terence Blanchard
- Mank, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
- Minari, Emile Mosseri
- News of the World, James Newton Howard
- Soul, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original song):
- “Fight For You” (Judas and the Black Messiah); Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyrics by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
- “Hear My Voice” (The Trial of the Chicago 7); Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyrics by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
- “Husavik” (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga); Music and Lyrics by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
- “Io Sì (Seen)” (The Life Ahead | La Vita Davanti a Se); Music by Diane Warren; Lyrics by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
- “Speak Now” (One Night in Miami…); Music and Lyrics by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
Best motion picture of the year:
- The Father, David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers
- Judas and the Black Messiah, Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
- Mank, Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers
- Minari, Christina Oh, Producer
- Nomadland, Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers
- Promising Young Woman, Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
- Sound of Metal, Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers
- The Trial of the Chicago 7, Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers
Achievement in production design:
- The Father, Peter Francis (Production Design); Cathy Featherstone (Set Decoration)
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mark Ricker (Production Design); Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton (Set Decoration)
- Mank, Donald Graham Burt (Production Design); Jan Pascale (Set Decoration)
- News of the World, David Crank (Production Design); Elizabeth Keenan (Set Decoration)
- Tenet, Nathan Crowley (Production Design); Kathy Lucas (Set Decoration)
Best animated short:
- Burrow, Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat
- Genius Loci, Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
- If Anything Happens I Love You, Will McCormack and Michael Govier
- Opera, Erick Oh
- Yes-People, Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson
Best live-action short:
- Feeling Through, Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
- The Letter Room, Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan
- The Present, Farah Nabulsi
- Two Distant Strangers, Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe
- White Eye, Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman
Achievement in sound:
- Greyhound, Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
- Mank, Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin
- News of the World, Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett
- Soul, Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
- Sound of Metal, Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh
Achievement in visual effects:
- Love and Monsters, Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox
- The Midnight Sky, Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
- Mulan, Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram
- The One and Only Ivan, Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez
- Tenet, Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher
Adapted screenplay:
- Borat Subsequent Moviefilm; Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
- The Father; Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
- Nomadland; Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
- One Night in Miami…; Screenplay by Kemp Powers
- The White Tigers; Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani
Original screenplay:
- Judas and the Black Messiah; Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
- Minari; Written by Lee Isaac Chung
- Promising Young Woman; Written by Emerald Fennell
- Sound of Metal; Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
- The Trial of the Chicago 7; Written by Aaron Sorkin
When Are the 2021 Oscars Happening?
The 93rd Oscars will air Sunday, April 25, 2021, on ABC. The Oscars were initially planned to take place on February 28, 2021. Traditionally, the ceremony has been held in February or during the first weekend of March at the latest. The postponement announcement was made by the Academy on June 15, 2020, after months of theater closures and an ever-changing movie-release schedule.
The new April date gave studios more time to release their movies. This year, films were eligible for the 93rd Oscars if they were released between January 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. In previous years, that closing date was in December of the same year as the start date.
The New Eligibility Rule
The new eligibility and airing dates weren’t the most significant changes the Academy had to make this year to keep the Oscars moving forward.
The countrywide closures of movie theaters made it almost completely impossible for films to be released on the big screen. This is why films released directly to streaming platforms or video on demand will also be eligible for the Oscars. “Until further notice, and for the 93rd Awards year only, films that had a previously planned theatrical release but are initially made available on a commercial streaming or VOD service may qualify in the Best Picture, general entry and specialty categories for the 93rd Academy Awards,” the Academy notes among its rules and regulations.
That doesn’t mean every single movie released on Netflix was eligible for an Oscar nomination — only those that had previous plans for theatrical distribution like Roma, The Irishman and Marriage Story had in previous years. But several Netflix titles are contenders this year — like Mank, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Pieces of a Woman, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Da 5 Bloods.
The exceptionality of current events has helped cement the weight of not only Netflix but also Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services like Hulu in the prized awards competition. Amazon had a smaller slate of contending films than Netflix, but among them are some heavy-hitters like One Night in Miami and Sound of Metal. Meanwhile, Hulu has The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
Now, tell us: are you intrigued by this “completely different” award ceremony? Will you be watching the Oscars?
