By Jessica Ross
In light of the devastating Los Angeles-area fires, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced updates to the schedule for the 97th Oscars®. The changes reflect the Academy’s commitment to its community, while ensuring safety and consideration for those impacted.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang issued a joint statement addressing the situation:
"We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community. The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship."
Acknowledging the ongoing challenges posed by the fires, the Academy has made adjustments to key events leading up to the Oscars®. Kramer and Yang continued:
“Due to the still-active fires in the Los Angeles area, we feel it is necessary to extend our voting period and move the date of our nominations announcement to allow additional time for our members. Additionally, as we want to be sensitive to the infrastructure and lodging needs of the region in these next few weeks, it is imperative that we make some changes to our schedule of events, which we believe will have the support of our industry.
Our members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community, and we are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry. We also look forward to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts.
We will get through this together and bring a sense of healing to our global film community."
Updated Key Dates :
- Extended Voting Period : The Oscars nominations voting will now close on **Friday, January 17, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT.
- Nominations Announcement:The nominations announcement is rescheduled to Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 5:30 a.m. PT. This live event will be held virtually without in-person media coverage.
- Nominees Luncheon: The annual luncheon, originally planned for Monday, February 10, 2025, will not take place this year.
- Scientific and Technical Awards: Initially scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2025, these awards will be rescheduled, with a new date to be announced.
Despite the changes, the 97th Oscars ceremony will proceed as planned on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The event will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, stream on Hulu, and be broadcast in over 200 territories worldwide.
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ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is home to a global membership of more than 10,500 of the most accomplished film industry artists and leaders. The Academy recognizes and celebrates all aspects of the arts and sciences of moviemaking through renowned awards for cinematic achievement, including the Oscars®. With the largest film-related collection in the world, the Academy is a leader in the fields of conservation, preservation and exhibition of film-related objects and materials. Through its Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Academy presents powerful exhibitions, screenings and programs about cinema’s past, present, and future. The Academy also inspires young artists and creates opportunities for underrepresented communities to engage with the film world. Across all initiatives, the Academy connects global audiences – its members, the film industry, and film fans – through their shared passion for making and watching films.
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Heart Of Hollywood Magazine Contributor Jessica Ross
Since August 2022, Jessica Ross has been a contributor at Heart of Hollywood Magazine. Recent work includes Hollywood Unexpected airing on the XOTV Network digitally and broadcast and a starring role in the upcoming suspense thriller, Mr. Smith. Recently, she was a lead and co-producer in "Chasing Stars", a comedic-drama with an all female cast and crew.
Center Stage, Vegas Unlimited, Indie Activity, Action Magazine, Voyage LA, Cinderella of New York, Juwai, Bizbooast, Heart of Hollywood, JAMO Magazine, Entertainment Network Live, It Can By You, Livein Style Magazine, BuzzFeed and CBS are just a few of the media outlets she has been featured on.
