Just one day after both the Academy Awards and the BAFTA Awards were postponed by two months, the Independent Spirit Awards have followed suit.
The Independent Spirit Awards have taken place on the Saturday before Oscar Sunday for years, a tradition that will continue in 2021, with the ceremony taking place Saturday, April 24, 2021, before Oscar Sunday on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
The event will likely still take place in a large tent near the beach in Santa Monica, California, according to Deadline.
Postponed: Just one day after both the Academy Awards and the BAFTA Awards were postponed by two months, the Independent Spirit Awards have followed suit
Along with the date shift, Film Independent, the organization that runs the Independent Spirit Awards, also announced eligibility changes.
The Indie Spirit Awards, much like the Oscars and other awards season events, only allow films released during the previous calendar year to be eligible, but since theaters have been closed for the past three months, they are extending the eligibility.
‘The Film Independent Spirit Awards will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent in his statement on Tuesday.
Eligible: Along with the date shift, Film Independent, the organization that runs the Independent Spirit Awards, also announced eligibility changes.
‘Additionally, we will recognize films that were released between January 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021 in acknowledgement of the unique challenges the world of cinema, and the world as a whole, is currently experiencing,’ he added.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also pushed their eligibility to February 28 as well.
The Academy also pushed submission deadlines as well, with specialty categories (animated feature film, documentary feature, documentary short subject, international feature film, animated short film and live action short film) pushed to December 1, 2020.
Recognize: ‘Additionally, we will recognize films that were released between January 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021 in acknowledgement of the unique challenges the world of cinema, and the world as a whole, is currently experiencing,’ he added
Submission deadlines for all general entry categories, including best picture, original score and original song, has been pushed to January 15, 2021, with nominations set to be announced on March 15, 2021.
Next year’s Oscars will be the latest ever since the ceremony was televised, which began in 1953, with the Oscars to be followed by the grand opening of the Academy Museum in Los Angeles on April 30, 2021.
As for the Independent Spirit Awards, they have other eligibility requirements as well, with all films made for less than $22.5 million eligible for the ceremony.
Deadlines: Submission deadlines for all general entry categories, including best picture, original score and original song, has been pushed to January 15, 2021, with nominations set to be announced on March 15, 2021
The 35th Independent Spirit Awards were held in February, with A24’s The Farewell coming away as the big winner.
Director Lulu Wang’s critically-acclaimed drama won Best Feature, Best Supporting Female (Zhao Shu-zhen).
Olivia Wilde won Best First Feature for her hit movie Booksmart while Uncut Gems won for Best Director (Josh and Benny Safdie) and Best Male Lead (Adam Sandler).
Best Male Lead: Olivia Wilde won Best First Feature for her hit movie Booksmart while Uncut Gems won for Best Director (Josh and Benny Safdie) and Best Male Lead (Adam Sandler)