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The 2021 Oscar ceremony is just over three months away, but that does not mean we will not see more pandemic-related changes to this year’s awards season. According to Hollywood Reporter, the Academy recently decided to change the selection process for their shortlist for the best international functions due to “concerns about their ability to protect the safety of the process”, now that it has to take place online. They also expand the shortlist from ten to 15 films.
In a nutshell, the selection process usually involves a volunteer committee selecting seven films in person, to which the International Executive Committee adds, or “saves” three films, usually films that they think are overlooked and that deserve the award. . Which films are chosen by which committee is never made public.
According to THR, the Academy decided that ‘the online discussion of the executive committee via Zoom or a similar platform will leave it for leaks or brackets.’ Instead of exposing the debate, the provisional committee could choose virtually the entire shortlist this year, which would again have 15 slots instead of ten.
The shortlist for Best International Feature, and many of the other Oscar shortlists of this year, will be announced on February 9th and the candidates will be announced on March 15th.