Golden Globes Awards 2021: HFPA Further Extends Eligibility Exceptions

Deadline for Golden Globes-qualifying screenings waived until further notice

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is further extending its Golden Globes eligibility exceptions as a result of prolonged theater closures.

The HFPA announced on April 28 that its private members-only screening requirement has been suspended until further notice. The organization has also waived the theatrical or pay-per-view requirement for eligible films, opening up the possibility for premieres on subscription streaming services and cable television.

Global Change

To qualify for Golden Globe nominations, The HFPA normally requires films to meet at least two criteria:

1. have at least a seven-day run in theaters or on a pay-per-view service, opening on or before December 31, and
2. hold an HFPA members-only screening for a qualifying film within a week of its Los Angeles premiere date, while also providing a DVD or digital screener copy to all members by said screening date.

Back on March 30, the HFPA waived these rules for any films that were originally planning a Los Angeles area release between March 15 and April 30. But the organization has extended the April 30 deadline to a future date “to be determined by HFPA when cinemas in the Los Angeles area have generally reopened.” At that time, distributors can then contact the HFPA and set up new screening and screener copy release dates.

“The HFPA will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motion picture distribution and exhibition and may make other temporary variations to those rules as it considers appropriate in the future,” the organization said in its press release.

It’s unclear whether other U.S.-based film awards will also alter their rules. There is some speculation that the AMPAS (who has their Board of Governors meeting today, April 28) might alter their rules for the 2021 Academy Awards, but as of this writing nothing has been confirmed. Multiple U.S.-based film festivals have already altered their dates and rules – or completely cancelled their events outright – in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including South by Southwest and Tribeca Film Festival.

Some are hopeful that the deadline will be sooner rather than later. However, as with all COVID-19-related developments, it’s all a bunch of speculation.

Novel Coronavirus Update

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti is hopeful that “the curve really is beginning to flatten” and that the city will be able to start easing restrictions soon. However, as of this writing, California on the whole is under stay-at-home orders until further notice. The state is currently fifth in the U.S. in number of total cases, with over 43,000 confirmed cases.

The novel coronavirus, resulting in the COVID-19 disease, has slowed down the world in many aspects. All governments and industries are dealing with the fallout of the virus. As of this writing, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports just under 1 million cases within the United States, including over 55,000 related deaths. The World Health Organization reports nearly 3 million cases of the virus worldwide, with more than 202,000 deaths.

Keep abreast on our reporting of the outbreak as it pertains to the entertainment industry here. You can also watch IndieWire’s listing for more frequent updates. Stay inside, stay healthy, and stay safe.

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