On January 24, 2023, the 95th Oscar nominations were made by Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams. There were heartbreaks and screams as they spoke the name of hopefuls that were left behind and made the cut. However, the moment to celebrate cinema is marred by controversy currently. The Oscars campaigns are now under strict purview, with Andrea Riseborough‘s nomination under question.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences didn’t mention the film by name leading to their investigation. Still, it’s likely that Andrea Risenborough’s Oscar nod for ‘To Leslie’ caused the hullabaloo. What about a movie with zero to no resources is making the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences reconsider their in-house voting rules?
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Is Andrea Riseborough’s Best Actress Nomination Illegal?
The Best Actress nominations were all the names we had hoped for until Andrea Riseborough showed up to the game. While she’s over the moon, there are talks of her being disqualified. ‘To Leslie’ is a modest film with a modest budget which may have skirted the law a little.
‘To Leslie’ gained prominence recently, thanks to word of mouth and celebrity movie screenings. While Risenborough might not have personally done something fishy, there have been talks of “aggressive tactics” being used to forward the Andrea Risborough agenda. A lot goes into pushing a movie for an awards season, something ‘To Leslie’ has no resources for.
Frances Fisher, Andrea’s most passionate supporter, put out multiple social media posts that landed this Oscar campaign under investigation. By doing this, Frances Fisher violated the Academy’s rules, particularly no. 11, “References to Other Nominees,” which states that “any tactic that singles out ‘the competition’ by name or title is expressly forbidden.
In Case You Missed: Oscars 2023: The Complete List Of Nominations
A History of Controversies Surrounding Oscars
This won’t be the first time Academy Awards are under fire. There have been instances in the past where the reputation of this sacred ceremony has met with disharmonious. Only last year, Will Smith shocked a room full of people by slapping the host Chris for a harmless joke.
There have been dramatic moments when the presenters presented the award to the wrong movies, only to rectify themselves after everything wrapped. The most pressing complaint, however, is how these awards need to be more diverse. While the Academy is looking at the authenticity of Risenborough’s nomination, it should also look into a more important matter of representation. It should be earnest, and the bare minimum won’t do it anymore.
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