NEW YORK (AP) – After reviewing the awards campaign for the indie drama To Leslie, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday that Andrea Riseborough will not be stripped of her Best Actress Academy Award nomination.
Riseborough’s star-studded grassroots campaign sparked skepticism from some Academy voters and caused controversy in Hollywood. On Friday, the Academy announced it would look to see if any rules were being broken.Shortly before the nominations, a number of celebrities hosted screenings of “To Leslie,” and a number of celebrities took to social media to find out. Riseborough was driven to race after promoting her in
‘To Leslie’ director Michael Morris and his wife, actors Mary McCormack, Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Adams and Courteney Cox all at the movie screening hosted the Acclaimed British actor Riseborough unexpectedly entered the best actress race despite a very small audience for “To Leslie” (around $27,000 at the box office).
Academy CEO Bill Cramer said, “The Academy has determined that the activity in question has not reached the level at which the film’s nomination should be withdrawn.” We’ve discovered tactics, and those tactics are being addressed directly by those responsible.”
The Academy has revoked campaign nominations that previously broke regulations. Celebrity-hosted screenings are a regular feature of Oscar season, but there are restrictions on how voters are contacted during the Oscar voting period. On Tuesday, the Academy suggested that Riseborough’s unorthodox campaign may require fine-tuning of the bylaws.
“Given this review, it is clear that we need to clarify what constitutes regulation in order to create a better framework for respectful, inclusive and unbiased campaigns,” Kramer said. “These changes will take place after this awards cycle and will be shared with membership. I am trying to make it.”
Critics of Riseborough’s campaign said it showed how deep Rolodex could step in to potential candidates. “Till”) was notably excluded from Best Actress.
Along with Riseborough, nominees include Kate Brachette (“Tar”), Michelle Williams (“The Faberman”), Ana de Armas (“Blonde”) and Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere”). All at Once”).
