Wildfires in Los Angeles Delay Oscar Nominations
LOS ANGELES — The highly anticipated announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations has been pushed back by two days due to the devastating wildfires engulfing the Los Angeles area.
The nominations, originally set to be unveiled on Friday 17 January, will now be revealed on 19 January.
The voting period for the nearly 10,000 Academy members, which began on 8 January, has also been extended by two days, now closing on Tuesday 14 January.
Notable figures such as former Oscars host Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, James Woods, and Miles Teller have tragically lost their homes in the fires.
In a letter addressed to members, Academy CEO Bill Kramer expressed his condolences, stating: “We want to offer our deepest sympathies to those affected by the devastating fires across Southern California.
“Many of our members and industry colleagues reside and work in the Los Angeles area, and our thoughts are with you.”
Conan O’Brien is set to host the 2025 Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theater on Hollywood Boulevard on 2 March.
The wildfires have wreaked havoc on Hollywood residents and the film and TV industry in the region.
Several LA events and movie premieres, including Unstoppable, Wolf Man, Robbie Williams’ Better Man, and The Pitt, have been either cancelled or postponed.
Additionally, an event to announce the nominees for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards was scrapped on Wednesday.
The nominations were instead revealed through a press release, with Wicked leading the pack.
Actress Demi Moore’s chances of an Oscar nod were bolstered after winning a Golden Globe award last weekend.
The Golden Globes, considered a significant precursor to the Oscars, provided insight into which films are gaining momentum. Other winners included Emilia Pérez, The Brutalist, and Wicked. — BBC
