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The California wildfires, which have raged for days and remain uncontained, have not only claimed lives and destroyed countless homes but also severely impacted Hollywood operations. Many stars and behind-the-scenes professionals are among those affected, either busy evacuating or resettling their lives. Amidst the crisis, some productions have halted, in-person ceremonies and premieres have been postponed or canceled, and numerous online promotional campaigns for films have been delayed to avoid diverting media attention or appearing insensitive to the current situation.
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This period coincides with the voting window for the 97th Academy Awards, where members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) are tasked with selecting nominees across various categories. However, the wildfires have thrown the schedule into disarray. The initial voting deadline was set for last Sunday, but the Academy first extended it to the 14th, and now again to the 17th. Nominations are tentatively scheduled to be announced on the 23rd, US time.
While the awards ceremony itself is still slated for March 2nd, the annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon, originally scheduled for February 10th, has been outright canceled.
Industry reporter Jeff Sneider shared insights on the situation:
In a related development, the Academy has also donated $750,000 to a local Los Angeles film and television foundation to aid in disaster relief.