There has been plenty of Academy and other film awards news that was announced over the past few weeks, and this week, I will recap all the latest items. Next week, I will begin a two-part preview of all the fall and winter films which will finish up 2001, and do my first early handicapping of which films I think from advance buzz have the best chance of being serious Oscar contenders. First off next week, I'll do a quick recap of the summer's films, and see if any films from the first eight months of the year have a chance to still be nominated for the 74th Annual Academy Awards.
Let's begin this week with all the latest news from the Academy. Robert Rehme finished up his term as the Academy's President, and Oscar winner Frank Pierson was elected the new President of the organization. Pierson has been serving as a governor in the Academy for many years, specifically representing the writer's branch. Pierson had won an Oscar before his incredible screenplay to the 1975 classic Dog Day Afternoon. There were also several other regular elections of various governors and vice presidents of the Academy. Roger Mayer, an executives branch governor, was elected first vice president, while sound branch governor Don Rogers and actors branch governor Kathy Bates were elected vice presidents. Music branch governor Alan Bergman was elected treasurer, and producers branch governor Saul Zaentz was elected secretary.
Robert Rehme I believe did a very good job as Academy President in his term of service, and let's hope Frank Pierson does the same.
In other Academy news, the official rules and guidelines for the 74th Annual Academy Awards were mailed out the week of August 13 to the voting members of the Academy. Highlights from the official rules for the next Academy Awards:
· The deadline for submitting entry forms for the documentary categories is October 1, 2001. The deadline for receipt of the film print and proof of qualifying exhibition is October 31 (which also is the last date for a documentary film to screen in order to qualify).
