93rd Academy Awards

93rd Academy Awards
source
Name	93rd Academy Awards
Caption	Dolby Theatre, site of the ceremony
Date	April 25, 2021
Site	Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Host	No single host; multiple presenters
Best picture	Nomadland
Most wins	Nomadland (3)
Most nominations	Mank (10)
Network	ABC
Ratings	10.4 million (U.S. average)

93rd Academy Awards The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony honored the best films of 2020 and early 2021 and was presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California on April 25, 2021. The event awarded statuettes in 23 competitive categories, notable for pandemic-era production adjustments, the recognition of streaming services, and wins for films such as Nomadland, The Father, and Sound of Metal. The ceremony featured a decentralized format with nominees participating from remote locations and alternative venues including the Union Station (Los Angeles), the TCL Chinese Theatre, and international sites.

Background and planning

Planning for the ceremony involved the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences coordinating with the State of California, the City of Los Angeles, and public health authorities including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. In December 2020 the Academy extended eligibility rules and shifted the telecast date from late February to April, affecting distribution strategies of studios such as Netflix, Amazon Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and Focus Features. Producers including Michaela Coel-adjacent teams and showrunners worked with ABC (American TV network) and Disney executives to design a program integrating live and prerecorded segments involving talent represented by agencies like Creative Artists Agency, William Morris Endeavor, and United Talent Agency.

Ceremony summary

The ceremony featured a mix of in-person segments at the Dolby Theatre and remote appearances from nominees in cities such as London, Paris, New York City, and Toronto. Presenters and winners included creatives associated with films like Nomadland director Chloé Zhao, actor Anthony Hopkins for The Father, director Thomas Vinterberg for Another Round, and musician collaborators connected to Sound of Metal such as Riz Ahmed and Olivia Wilde-adjacent cast. The show incorporated montages acknowledging the industry impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, references to film history spanning works like Citizen Kane, The Godfather, and Schindler's List, and appearances by international cinema figures including representatives of Cannes Film Festival and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Winners and nominees

Major winners included Nomadland (Best Picture), Chloé Zhao (Best Director), Frances McDormand (Best Actress), Anthony Hopkins (Best Actor), Youn Yuh-jung (Best Supporting Actress) for Minari, and Daniel Kaluuya (Best Supporting Actor) for Judas and the Black Messiah. Other honored films and craftspeople comprised The Father (Best Adapted Screenplay), Promising Young Woman (Original Screenplay nomination), Sound of Metal (Best Sound and Best Editing), and Mank which led nominations across categories including Best Production Design and Best Cinematography. The nominees represented studios and distributors such as Netflix, Searchlight Pictures, A24, Focus Features, Sony Pictures Classics, and Lionsgate with individuals from guilds including the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Society of Cinematographers.

Presenters and performances

Presenters spanned a wide array of entertainment figures from film and television including members of casts from The Crown, Schitt's Creek, The Mandalorian, and Bridgerton, along with filmmakers from Martin Scorsese-adjacent circles and musicians affiliated with The Beatles catalog releases. Musical performances highlighted nominated songs and scores by artists and composers such as Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Alexandre Desplat, and performers connected to Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington through industry networks. The orchestra and sound teams worked under constraints set by unions including the American Federation of Musicians and SAG-AFTRA.

Broadcast and ratings

ABC broadcast the ceremony in the United States with production oversight by Reginald Hudlin and televised presentation produced by Warner Bros.-affiliated teams and Disney distribution units. International broadcasters included BBC outlets, CBC, Network 10 (Australia), and pay-television partners in markets such as India and China. Ratings reflected a decline compared to prior years, with Nielsen reporting an average audience near 10.4 million viewers in the U.S., prompting analysis from outlets such as Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline Hollywood about changing viewer habits and streaming competition from platforms like Netflix and Disney+.

Controversies and reception

The ceremony drew commentary on issues including the treatment of remote nominees, the decision not to appoint a single host (contrasting with previous hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen DeGeneres), and critiques of production decisions documented by publications such as The New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Debates emerged over the recognition of streaming services versus traditional studios, with industry figures from Paramount Pictures to Warner Bros. weighing in, and conversations about diversity and representation referencing campaigns and organizations including Time's Up, Black Lives Matter, and advocacy by NAACP and GLAAD. Reviews of the show ranged across commentary in Rolling Stone, Vulture, and The Atlantic focusing on pacing, technical execution, and the cultural significance of wins for Chloé Zhao and Frances McDormand; trade groups such as the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences also weighed in on broadcast standards and future production planning.

Category:Academy Awards ceremonies