The Academy will not revoke Andrea Riseborough’s Oscar nomination

First there was the word of mouth campaign promoting Andrea Riseborough’s appearance in the indie film To Leslie. Then came Riseborough’s surprise Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Then, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced a review of the nomination process that could have resulted in Riseborough’s nomination being revoked. Well, after all the hubbub, the results are in: Riseborough remains an Oscar nominee.

An outsider in awards season, To Leslie is a lesser-known drama that grossed $27,000 in theaters and did not have a competitive budget for a For Your Consideration campaign. Riseborough’s nomination came after a week-long social media blitz in which her performance was praised by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron and many others.

to Leslie’‘s approach to securing an Oscar nomination has ruffled the feathers, but there’s more to the controversy than the anger of a grassroots campaign. Riseborough, who is white, received a nomination over black actors like The Woman King‘s Viola Davis and until‘s Danielle Deadwyler, both of whom were considered contenders in the Oscars conversation. While some have viewed To Leslie Nominated as a win for budget films, others have pointed out that even high-profile films with more resources for an awards campaign could be snubbed because the awards ecosystem is failing black women(Opens in a new window) again and again.

On January 27, following the backlash over the nominations, the academy announced that it would be reviewing the nominations process. Her statement made no mention of Riseborough or To Leslie. However, given the controversial nature of Riseborough’s campaign, it seemed clear that the review concerned her nomination.

The review drew even more backlash when actors like Christina Ricci shared it on social media (Opens in a new window)that it felt “elitist and exclusive and frankly very backward”. Comedian (and Riseborough’s To Leslie co-star) Marc Maron also criticized the academy’s decision over his WTF podcast.(Opens in a new window)

The academy’s decision came in a Jan. 31 statement to the media from Bill Kramer, CEO of AMPAS, who said, “The academy has determined that the activity in question does not reach the level that the film’s nomination should be revoked. ‘ That’s what the statement says To Leslie‘s social media tactics have raised concerns and will be raised with those in charge.

Kramer’s full statement on the matter is as follows:

Based on concerns raised around the last week To Leslie Awards campaign, the Academy began with a review of the film’s campaign tactics. The Academy has determined that the activity in question is not of the level that the film’s nomination should be de-nominated. However, we have identified social media and outreach campaigns that have raised concerns. These tactics are discussed directly with those responsible.

The purpose of the Academy’s Rules of Action is to ensure a fair and ethical award process – these are core values ​​of the Academy. In light of this review, it is evident that there are elements of the regulations that need to be clarified to help create a better framework for respectful, inclusive and impartial campaigning. These changes will be made after this award cycle and communicated to our members. The Academy strives to create an environment where voting is based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible films and performances.

That ends the argument To Leslie Saga — at least until the Oscars airs on March 12th. If Riseborough pulls off an underdog win, it will undoubtedly be one of the most surprising (and yes, discourse-provoking) Oscar wins of all time.