National Board of Review awards move to January 2021

The National Board of Review, usually the first awards body to hand out film accolades, has picked up from its usual late November slot and will now happen January 26, 2021. This new date will reflect the same extended eligibility as the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and others in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, the NBR extended its eligibility period saying: “Films will be eligible if screened by the NBR and released either theatrically or digitally on or before Feb. 28, 2021. If a movie’s release is digital, it must have had a theatrical release planned prior to the onset of COVID-19.”

“This moment in time has only further proven the importance of cinema. A well-told story has unmatched power to bring us all together, no matter how physically far we are from one another,” said Annie Schulhof, President of the National Board of Review. “We look forward to honoring the best films and performances of 2020, a highly unusual year that is nevertheless poised to provide unique and outstanding achievements in cinema.”

2020/2021 Awards Calendar

The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures was founded in 1909 and began handing out film awards in 1930 and is the oldest organization to do so. The rather secretive group is made up of over 250 film historians, enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals and academics.

Last year they awarded The Irishman Best Picture and Parasite Best Foreign Film. Both were nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars with Parasite winning.