Topline
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will not rescind Andrea Riseborogh’s nomination for best actress for her role in To Leslie, CEO Bill Kramer announced Tuesday, after concerns were raised over the unusual grassroots-style tactics used by the indie movie’s producers to drum up support for its surprise nomination.
This image released by Momentum Pictures shows Andrea Riseborough in a scene from “To Leslie.”
Key Facts
After a review, the Academy determined To Leslie’s Oscar campaign “does not rise to the level that the film’s nomination should be rescinded, according to a statement.
However, it “did discover social media and outreach campaigning tactics that caused concern,” which are being directly addressed with the responsible parties.
The review found certain aspects of the group’s regulations for Oscar nomination campaigns “must be clarified to help create a better framework for respectful, inclusive, and unbiased campaigning,” which will be put into place after this Oscars cycle.
Key Background
Riseborough received a coveted nomination for best actress last week, an honor which only four other stars received. Most Oscar watchers were surprised when Risborough, whose movie To Leslie made just over $27,000, was nominated alongside Cate Blanchett (Tár), Ana de Armas (Blonde), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once), who were all largely expected to receive nods. Risborough only received one other nomination for her performance, an Independent Spirit Award, and was ignored by the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes, which are usually strong Oscar predictors. Risborough had received a push of last minute support from stars like Jennifer Aniston who hosted screenings, and on social media in posts from the likes of Mia Farrow and Joe Mantegna. Many dubbed the effort a “grassroots” and “word-of-mouth,” campaign, as thousands of dollars weren’t spent to host screenings, luncheons or on billboards, unlike typical Oscar pushes. However, some drew concern with whether the film’s promotional efforts interfered with rules about how voters can be reached out to. On Friday, the Academy said it would conduct a review of “the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees,” which many understood to be directed at To Leslie.
Further Reading
Oscar Nominations 2023: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Leads Pack (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/01/31/academy-wont-rescind-andrea-riseboroghs-oscar-nomination-over-to-leslie-promotional-tactics/