Los Angeles fires delay 2025 Oscar nominations, expand voting

The wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area this week have caused numerous closures, cancellations and postponements, now including the Oscar nominations.

Originally scheduled for Jan. 17, the announcement of the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards was delayed until Jan. 19, and nomination voting was extended by two days to Jan. 14, he wrote Wednesday. film academy CEO Bill Kramer in a letter to members obtained. by The Times.

“We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been affected by the devastating fires in Southern California,” the letter said. “Many of our industry members and colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area and we are thinking of you.”

In-person “bake-off” events in the Los Angeles area, in which shortlisted contenders in the academy's sound, hair and makeup and visual effects branches showcase their work, have been canceled, according to the letter. Originally, the bake-offs were scheduled for Saturday. Sound contests in the Bay Area, New York and London will not be affected, while hair, makeup and visual effects contests will be replaced with virtual debates. The screening of the shortlisted titles in the international feature film category was also postponed.

News of the nomination delay comes as a “destructive and potentially deadly” fire and wind ravage multiple locations in Los Angeles County. As of Wednesday afternoon, five people had been confirmed dead and more than 1,100 structures had been destroyed.

Earlier Wednesday, several Oscar precursor events, including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Tea Party, the AFI Awards Luncheon and the Critics Choice Awards, were postponed or cancelled. The Writers Guild of America also delayed announcing its award nominations from Thursday to Monday.

The 97th edition of the Oscars will be held on March 2.

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