The Oscars awards body said Monday it was canceling its nominees luncheon as Los Angeles continues to grapple with devastating wildfires.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also announced its nominations online, as Hollywood tries to shake off the somber atmosphere at a time when it usually celebrates awards season.
“We are all devastated by the impact of the fire and the tremendous loss it has caused to so many in our community,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang.
“The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of difficulty.”
The names of the Oscar finalists will now be announced at a virtual event on Jan. 23, while the nominees luncheon — a champagne-swilling celebration of everyone vying for a statuette — is off, the academy said.
Massive fires have devastated entire communities around Los Angeles, the United States’ second-largest city, killing at least 24 people and destroying thousands of structures.
Seven days after the fire, 92,000 people are still displaced.
Stars including Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, and Billy Crystal lost their homes in the fire, and TV and film production was halted.
Hollywood studios and streamers have pledged eight-figure donations to emergency response and reconstruction efforts.
Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney each committed $15 million, while Netflix, Amazon and Universal’s parent company Comcast said they would each commit $10 million.
A statement from Warner said, “Our studios have called Burbank home for more than 100 years, and we are focused on helping those affected by this disaster recover and thrive in the weeks, months and years ahead.” What needs to be done to help rebuild.”
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The industry is considering how to handle the recently begun awards season – an endless series of spectacular premieres, ceremonies and award-giving ceremonies.
Hollywood insiders are wary of appearing indifferent to the suffering of a city that is home to hundreds of thousands of people working in and around the TV and film industries.
“Hacks” actress Jean Smart has advocated scrapping the entire season, and urged TV networks to “donate the revenue that would have been received to the victims of the fire and the firefighters” instead.
But the academy said Monday it would move forward with its gala evening, the traditional finale of the gong awarding season, indicating that first responders would be in attendance at the Dolby Theater on March 2.
“Our members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community, and we are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry,” it said in a statement. “
“We are also keen to honor our frontline workers assisting in the response to the fires, recognize those affected and encourage people to join the Academy in support of relief efforts.”
Organizers said Monday that music’s equivalent of the awards ceremony, the Grammys, will also go ahead as planned.
In a letter to academy members obtained by AFP, organizers said the 67th annual music awards ceremony will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles in close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of the arena’s resources. will be.
The letter said that along with honoring nominees including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar, the show will focus on raising cash to support relief efforts and first responders involved in the fight against the fires. Will pay tribute.
The Sundance Film Festival, which started in Utah next week, will also continue.
Organizers said, “For now, we can mourn, but we also know it is important to continue.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
