The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has put out a statement following speculation about possible Oscar-campaigning irregularities. Almost a week after this year’s nominations were announced, the Academy said its “conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees.”
The organization is going over “whether changes to the guidelines may be needed in a new era of social media and digital communication.”
The AMPAS does not go into detail on which film or individual it’s referring. Still, there is speculation it’s in response to Andrea Risebourogh’s nomination for the little-seen drama To Leslie. Risebourogh spoke to Deadline after her nomination on Tuesday, saying, “I’m astounded. … It was so hard to believe it might ever happen because we really hadn’t been in the running for anything else. Even though we had a lot of support, the idea it might actually happen seemed so far away.”
To Leslie was released in October and made a little over $27,000, making it one of the lowest-grossing films ever to get an Oscar nomination. There was no budget for the awards campaign, and Risebourogh leaned on friends to support the film. Risebourogh and her team uploaded and entered it into the Academy’s screening portal. Screenings were hosted by Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox, Edward Norton, Jennifer Aniston and Minnie Driver.
Before voting closed, there was a campaign on social media led by those stars, Demi Moore, Jane Fonda, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, Laura Dern, Frances Fisher, and much more, shooting Risebourogh into the conversation.
Here is the Academy’s complete statement:
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