Andrea Riseborough inTo Leslie(2022).Photo: Everett
Days after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that a review was being conducted to determine the awards' rules for online campaigning, it announced on Tuesday that the British actress will keep her Best Actress nomination forTo Lesliefollowing a grassroots social media campaign from fellow actors.
“Based on concerns that surfaced last week around theTo Leslieawards campaign, the Academy began a review into the film’s campaigning tactics. The Academy has determined the activity in question does not rise to the level that the film’s nomination should be rescinded,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer said in a statement. “However, we did discover social media and outreach campaigning tactics that caused concern. These tactics are being addressed with the responsible parties directly.
“The purpose of the Academy’s campaign regulations is to ensure a fair and ethical awards process—these are core values of the Academy. Given this review, it is apparent that components of the regulations must be clarified to help create a better framework for respectful, inclusive, and unbiased campaigning. These changes will be made after this awards cycle and will be shared with our membership. The Academy strives to create an environment where votes are based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible films and achievements.”
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Andrea Riseborough.Samir Hussein/WireImage
TheTo Lesliestar, 41, is nominated at the upcoming 95th ceremony alongsideCate Blanchett(Tár), Ana de Armas (Blonde),Michelle Williams(The Fabelmans) andMichelle Yeoh(Everything Everywhere All at Once). Many consideredTill’sDanielle DeadwylerandThe Woman King’sViola Davisto havebeen notable snubs fromthe category. Both scoredBAFTA Awardnominations in the same category days prior, though Oscar nominations are not always mirrored.
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Prior to the announcement, most Oscars experts hadn’t listed the actress as a frontrunner for a nomination (though she earned anIndependent Spirit Awardnomination), but a last-minute campaign from celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow,Kate WinsletandEdward Nortonboosted her during the voting period.
On Jan. 27, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in a statement that it will review its policies about campaigning and see if updates need to be made in the modern social media age.
“It is the Academy’s goal to ensure that the Awards competition is conducted in a fair and ethical manner, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive awards process,” it said in a statement. “We areconducting a review of the campaign proceduresaround this year’s nominees, to ensure that no guidelines were violated and to inform us whether changes to the guidelines may be needed in a new era of social media and digital communication.”
The Academy added, however, “We have confidence in the integrity of our nomination and voting procedures, and support genuine grassroots campaigns for outstanding performances.”
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Fellow celebrities likeChristina Ricciand Riseborough’sTo Lesliecostar Marc Maron spoke out on her behalf after the Academy announced their investigation.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Ricci, 42, said, “Seems hilarious that the ‘surprise nomination’ (meaning tons of money wasn’t spent to position this actress) of a legitimately brilliant performance is being met with an investigation.”
Continued theYellowjacketsactress, “So it’s only the films and actors that can afford the campaigns that deserve recognition? Feelselitist and exclusive and frankly very backwardto me.”
Of the campaign, Maron added later that he believesRiseborough’s nomination “is not undeserving.“He added, “But I’m glad the Academy — at the behest of special interest and corporate interest and just paranoia about how they look — are doing an investigation. Who gives a f—!”
source: people.com
