Hollywood Foreign Press tweaks Golden Globe film eligibility due to coronavirus

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization that puts on the Golden Globes, had announced a change in film eligibility for next year’s awards as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic.

As movie theaters in Los Angeles, where the group is based, are closed, the HFPA has temporarily suspended the rule that a film must be screened in a theater or screening room for journalists. Distributors now may contact the HFPA to arrange a screening date on the official HFPA calendar that meets the timing requirements of the Golden Globes eligibility rules or must provide all 90+ HFPA members with a screening link or a DVD copy of the film so that it can be viewed at home. Rules for a film’s release have also been tweaked. The HFPA will now consider titles that had a theatrical release planned to begin in Los Angeles between that window of March 15 and April 30 but were also made available through pay-per-view services.

“The HFPA will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on motion picture and television distribution and exhibition and may extend these suspensions of the Golden Globe award rules and/or may make other temporary variations to those rules as it considers appropriate in the future,” the org said in a statement.

The Oscars have not announced any changes in eligibility requirements so far but will hold their annual Board of Governors meeting on April 14, where the top is sure to be at the top of the list.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are set to return as hosts of the 78th Golden Globe Awards, which are set for January 10th, 2021.