Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/LOS ANGELES: A day after a media report raised questions about the unexpected nomination of British actress Andrea Riseborough, the Hollywood film academy announced on Friday that it was reviewing this year’s Oscar nomination campaigns.
Riseborough stunned award experts on Tuesday when she learned she had been nominated for best actress for her role as an alcoholic single mother in the underappreciated movie “To Leslie.”
According to the media newsletter Puck, the unexpected nomination has raised concerns about whether Riseborough’s aggressive campaign violates the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ lobbying rules.
A statement issued by the film academy
The academy said on Friday it was “conducting a review of the campaign processes encompassing this year’s nominees, to ensure that no guidelines were violated.” Riseborough was not mentioned in the statement. The review will also “inform us whether changes to the guidelines are required in a new era of social media and digital communication,” according to the statement.
The academy limits the amount and regularity with which studios can communicate with voters as part of their Oscars campaigns. According to Puck, the film director’s wife, actress Mary McCormack, and friends “emailed and called tonnes of members of the Academy’s actor’s branch, begging them to see the little-watched alcoholic drama and post online about searing performance of Riseborough.
Hundreds of A-list stars “sang her praises and helped win her the coveted nomination,” according to Puck. Upon request for comment, Riseborough representatives and McCormack did not respond immediately. According to Box Office Mojo, “Leslie” has earned $27,000 at the box office since its October release. According to the academy, they are confident in the integrity of their nomination and voting procedures, and they support genuine grassroots campaigns for outstanding performances. The Academy Award winners will be announced on March 12.
