Impact of Wildfires on Hollywood's Awards Season Dates

Hollywood’s awards season has faced significant disruptions due to the ongoing wildfires affecting the Los Angeles area. Authorities and organizations involved in the entertainment industry have issued near daily updates as they respond to this crisis.

Below is a summary of key upcoming awards shows, along with modifications to their schedules and nomination announcements.

Producers Guild and Writers Guild Award Nominations

The nominations for the Writers Guild of America were originally scheduled for January 8 but were moved to January 13 and then indefinitely postponed. Similarly, the Producers Guild of America’s nominations for feature films, planned for January 10, were pushed to January 12 and then postponed without a new date provided.

Academy Award Nominations

The announcement for the Oscar nominations has been delayed multiple times. Initially set for January 17, the date was moved to January 19, and then further postponed. This change allows for an extended voting period, as many Academy members have been impacted by the fires.

Nominations will be revealed through a virtual presentation, eliminating the need for a live press event.

Critics Choice Awards

Now scheduled for January 26, this event was originally planned for January 12 and was to be held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, close to areas affected by the wildfires.

The Critics Choice Awards will be broadcast live on E!, hosted by Chelsea Handler.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards, set for February 2, have largely remained on schedule, thanks to an earlier nomination announcement in November. However, some related events, such as Universal Music Group's Artist Showcase and after-party, have been canceled to focus resources on wildfire recovery efforts.

The Grammy Awards will air live on CBS, with a host yet to be named.

Producers and Directors Guild Awards

Scheduled for February 8, these two separate awards ceremonies will take place in Los Angeles on the same night. Historically, the winner of the Producers Guild’s Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures has frequently gone on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

Writers Guild Awards

Set for February 15, the Writers Guild of America recognizes outstanding works in adapted and original feature film screenplays, television shows, and documentaries. This event will not be televised.

BAFTAs

Taking place on February 16, the BAFTA Film Awards—officially referred to as the EE BAFTA Film Awards—serve as the British equivalent to the Oscars. The nominations will be announced on January 15, an unaffected date according to current conditions. Although the awards are hosted in London, nominees often include many individuals who reside in Los Angeles.

The event will be broadcast on BBC in the U.K. and BritBox in North America, with David Tennant serving as host.

Spirit Awards

The Film Independent Spirit Awards, airing on February 22, highlight films made for a budget of $30 million or less. The awards show will stream live on YouTube and will be hosted by Aidy Bryant.

SAG Awards

Scheduled for February 23, the Screen Actors Guild Awards proceeded with announcing the nominees through a press release instead of a live event due to the early days of the wildfires. These awards are significant predictors of the Oscars, and past winners in the best ensemble category often mirror the Academy Awards results. The SAG Awards will be streamed live on Netflix, hosted by Kristen Bell.

Academy Awards

Set for March 2, the Academy Awards will occur at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, which saw a brief threat from the Sunset Fire, but it was successfully extinguished. While the Oscars will proceed as planned, the Academy had to delay the Scientific and Technical Awards initially slated for February 18, with no new date announced. The annual nominees luncheon, a traditional social gathering, has been canceled this year.

The Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC, with Conan O’Brien as host.

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