Oscar debate: Amazon Studios hopes for common ground

Should films made for streaming giants like Amazon Studios and Netflix be banned from contention at the Oscars? That’s not going to work in the ecosystem of this evolving business, says Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke. Instead, there is a need to find common ground. Netflix’s “Roma”, helmed by Alfonso Cuaron, won big at the Oscars 2019.

The 91st Academy Awards saw “Roma” become the first Mexican feature to win the golden statuette for Best Foreign film, while Cuaron took home the awards for cinematography and directing. The film’s Oscar glory made way for a debate over whether movies for streaming services be allowed to compete at big award ceremonies, traditionally meant for feature films which get full theatrical release. Some reports claim that filmmaker Steven Spielberg, a member of the Motion Picture Academy’s board of governors, is pitching for a rule change to make things more difficult for streaming platforms.

“It’s a full release or you can’t be up for an award consideration, that is not in the ecosystem of this evolving business,” Salke told IANS when asked about her stance on the ongoing debate. “I don’t think that this is going to be a result. I think they have to figure out something in between,” she added.