Coronavirus: Golden Globes revise eligibility rules

Many countries across the world, including India, are in lockdown, and with the coronavirus pandemic rising in the United States, the Golden Globes has revised its film eligibility rules for next year. With a majority of the world's cinemas shuttered, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has been forced to alter its guidelines.

According to a report at Variety.com, the previous rule stated that a film had to be screened for the organisation which votes on the annual awards at a third party facility in the greater Los Angeles area. The new rule says that "distributors must contact the HFPA to arrange a screening date on the official HFPA calendar that meets the timing requirements of the Golden Globes eligibility rules".

Additionally, they must send all members a screening link or a DVD copy of their film to view at home on the date of the scheduled screening. These new guidelines go into effect from 15 March to 30 April.

The HFPA has also made inclusions for the films that were due to be released theatrically in Los Angeles, California from 15 March to 30 April. They will also be under awards consideration, just like any other film released theatrically or pay-per view (for a minimum of seven days) in 2020 until 31 December.

In a statement, the organisation said, "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 2021 Golden Globes will be hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. They have hosted the ceremony thrice from 2013 to 2015.

Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding (2001) was the last Indian film to be nominated at the awards in 2002.

Meanwhile, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has yet to make any announcement about its eligibility rules. Last week, the organisation had stated it was "evaluating all aspects of this uncertain landscape and what changes may need to be made".