![The Golden Globes Change Eligibility Rules Because of Coronavirus](https://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2016/01/2016-golden-globes-winners-list-pic1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
The Golden Globes Change Eligibility Rules Because of Coronavirus
Most major film awards require any movie that wants to be eligible for consideration to play for at least one week in a theater in either New York or Los Angeles. Well, now movie theaters in both those cities and around the world are closed because of coronavirus. The situation may not improve for months. How will you have awards without movies to contend for them?
You’re going to have to change the rules — which is what the Golden Globes have already done in reaction to the continuing coronavirus crisis. Variety reports that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group that hands out the Globes, has “temporarily suspended” its rule that movies must play in a theater in Los Angeles for members of their group. Instead, new guidelines state...
...that distributors must contact the HFPA to arrange a screening date on the official HFPA calendar that meets the timing requirements of the Golden Globes eligibility rules. Distributors must provide all HFPA members with a screening link or a DVD copy of the film on the date the the screening is scheduled so that members may view it at home. It will be in effect from March 15 through April 30, 2020.
Right now, awards shows set to take place in 2021 are extremely low priorities. Like, the lowest of the low. But the longer this pandemic goes, and the more it impacts movie theater operations and movie releases, the more it will become an issue. How do you have the Academy Awards if no movies have played in theaters for half a year? Where will these movies even find an audience if there are no film festivals to premiere them? There are a lot of interlocking elements of this, and they’re only going to get more complicated as this situation develops.
Gallery — The Craziest Golden Globe Nominees in History:
More From WZOZ
![Ringo Starr Cancels Tour After Second COVID Infection](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2022/10/attachment-Ringo.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![New Yorkers’ View on COVID Remains Unchanged After Two Years](http://townsquare.media/site/498/files/2022/06/attachment-pille-r-priske-O5Fo4vUuIBM-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![New York Toddlers Could Get COVID Shots This Week](http://townsquare.media/site/498/files/2020/01/GettyImages-2806714.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![A Variant of the Variant – Newest COVID Strains Are in Central New York](http://townsquare.media/site/41/files/2022/04/attachment-COVID-19-Latest.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Cooperstown Dreams Park Will Return In 2022 With A Full Baseball Camp Season](http://townsquare.media/site/454/files/2022/04/attachment-Cooperstown-Dreams-Park-Cooperstowndreamspark.com_.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Federal Student Loan Pause Is Being Extended Again- New York State](http://townsquare.media/site/40/files/2022/04/attachment-clay-banks-Hf8n0RUk7g0-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![What You Need To Know About The New Omicron Sub-Variant Moving Into New York](http://townsquare.media/site/497/files/2022/03/attachment-RS47582_GettyImages-1356192486-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Keep Covered! Masks Required on Public Transportation At Least Another Month](http://townsquare.media/site/39/files/2022/03/attachment-Light-Purple-and-White-Fashion-Back-to-Business-Landscape-Banner2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![NY Governor Extends COVID State of Emergency](http://townsquare.media/site/341/files/2021/08/attachment-GettyImages-1315919379.jpg?w=980&q=75)