Oscar Nomination Announcement Delayed By California Wildfires
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made changes to the 2025 Oscars schedule due to the devastating wildfires sweeping through Southern California. The nomination announcement, originally set for January 17th, has been pushed to January 19th. Voting, which opened on January 8th, has been extended by two days, giving nearly 10,000 Academy members until January 14th to cast their ballots.
These adjustments reflect the widespread impact of the fires, which have left thousands of residents displaced, including many in the entertainment industry. Academy CEO Bill Kramer addressed members in an email, saying, “We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.”
Despite these challenges, the Oscars ceremony remains scheduled for March 2nd at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, with Conan O’Brien set to host. The Golden Globes, which recently took place, have already sparked speculation about likely Oscar contenders, with winners like Wicked and The Brutalist gaining momentum.
The wildfires have had a particularly heavy toll on Southern California, where nearly 6,000 Academy members reside. Former Oscars host Billy Crystal and other celebrities, including Paris Hilton and James Woods, have reportedly lost homes to the blaze.
The fires have led to the postponement or cancellation of numerous Hollywood events, such as premieres for films like Unstoppable, Wolf Man, Better Man, and The Pitt. Even live announcements, such as the SAG Award nominations, have been replaced by press releases. The Critics Choice Awards, initially slated for January 12th, has been rescheduled to January 26th due to the ongoing crisis.
Additional Academy events have also been disrupted. The International Feature Shortlist Screening and several Bake-Off events for categories like Sound, Makeup, and Visual Effects have either been canceled or moved online. The Academy Museum in Los Angeles has also temporarily closed its doors, with all screenings postponed.
The full note from the Academy can be seen below:
Dear Academy members,
We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.
Given the fire situation, we want to share some updates regarding an extension to the Oscars nominations voting window as well as updated information on Oscars Shortlist Screenings, Oscars Bake-Offs, and the Academy Museum.
Nominations voting for the 97th Oscars opened this morning at 9am PT. We will be extending the voting window by two days to give members more time to cast their ballots. Voting will now close on Tuesday, January 14 at 5pm PT.
As such, our Oscars Nominations Announcement will move from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 19. More information on the announcement will follow soon.
The International Feature Film Shortlist Screening scheduled to take place this evening in Los Angeles will be rescheduled to later this week. Shortlist screenings will continue as scheduled in New York and London. Please note that all 15 shortlisted films in the International Feature Film category are available on the Academy Screening Room (ASR).
The in-person Los Angeles Sound Branch Bake-Off scheduled for Saturday, January 11 has been canceled. The Bay Area, London and New York Sound Bake-Off schedules remain unchanged. Please note that the Sound Bake-Off will be available to all members on the ASR.
The in-person Los Angeles and New York Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Bake-Offs scheduled for Saturday, January 11 have been canceled. Members of the Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch are invited to participate in a virtual discussion with the designated nominees that will be held on Saturday, January 11 – with details to follow soon. Please note that Bake-Off clips of the shortlisted films will be available on the ASR.
The in-person Los Angeles and Bay Area Visual Effects Branch Bake-Offs scheduled for Saturday, January 11 have been canceled. Members of the Visual Effects Branch are invited to participate in a virtual discussion with the designated nominees that will be held on Saturday, January 11 – with details to follow soon. Please note that Bake-Off clips of the shortlisted films will be available on the ASR.
Finally, the Academy Museum is closed today, Wednesday, January 8. All screenings will be rescheduled. Please go to www.academymuseum.org for more information.
Thank you for your understanding during this complex time. We hope everyone is safe.
Bill Kramer
CEO
