Oscars' 'no Zoom' policy causes backlash among overseas nominees

Studio executives and publicists are said to be in talks with the Academy over the decision to stop people dialling in virtually

The 93rd Oscars will be held on April 25, two months later than usual. AP

The "no Zoom" policy for this year's Oscars ceremony is proving a headache for the several nominees who live outside of the US and are still under pandemic restrictions.

Studio executives and publicists have complained to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organises the ceremony, about logistics, costs and quarantine issues raised by the decision to bar nominees from taking part in the ceremony remotely, industry publications including Deadline and Variety report.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Sunday, April 25 show to hand out the film industry's highest honours will be held both at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles and its traditional home at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Producers said last week there will "not be an option to Zoom in for the show" and encouraged nominees to attend in person.

At least nine nominees, including Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell and star Carey Mulligan, live in Britain. England next week is expected to ban non-essential international travel until June.

Farah Nabulsi, the British-Palestinian filmmaker nominated for her short film The Present, is also from the UK.

Representatives of the five international feature films – submitted by Denmark, Hong Kong, Romania, Tunisia and Bosnia – could also face hurdles getting to Los Angeles.

Some of the other 200 or so nominees will be working on productions that require quarantine or living in restricted "bubbles" with cast and crew, the publications state.

Visitors to California are currently expected to quarantine for 10 days. Travellers to nations outside the US are also subject to varying quarantine requirements.

Variety said a meeting this week to discuss the issues between the Academy, movie studio executives and publicists had been cancelled.

Other awards shows in recent months have replaced the usual in-person gatherings at gala dinners and on stage with pre-recorded appearances or virtual events, or a combination of the two with small in-person gatherings.

But television audiences have slumped, with the Golden Globes and the Grammys attracting the smallest numbers in decades.

- Additional reporting by Reuters