This week saw The Academy alter several of its deep-rooted guidelines. Among the changes was the acceptance of films produced by online platforms, cough *Netflix* cough, as well as the renaming of the ‘Best Foreign Film’ category to ‘Best International Film’.
While last year’s phenomenon, Netflix’s Roma, had been tipped to win the award for Best Film after its win at the BAFTA’s, it lost out to Green Book. This perhaps demonstrated that The Academy was not quite ready for an online platform-produced film to win its most prized title. Nonetheless, after the backlash that Green Book received, Roma’s shock loss may have contributed towards The Academy’s change in attitude.
The Trump influence was prominent at last year’s awards, felt in Spike Lee’s speech as well as the many references to breaking down walls and the need for global inclusion. For some time now, actors have used award ceremonies to shed light on prominent political issues, and whilst some view this as self-glorification, many others see it as a great use of a wide reaching platform. And after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy of 2015, the award ceremonies attendees seem to have pushed for a more liberal and inclusive event ever since.
If something is described as foreign we associate it with being different, unfamiliar or even inaccessible. It can no longer be used to describe a film that has not been produced in America – why should it be that a film not made by an American is defined as foreign? Roma‘s Mexican director, Alfonso Cuarón, has himself made tongue-in-cheek remarks about the antiquated ‘Best Foreign Film’ category, stating: “I grew up watching foreign language films and learning so much from them and being inspired… films like Citizen Kane, Jaws, Rashomon, The Godfather and Breathless.”
At any rate, the re-branding of the category seems about 20 or 30 years too late – even if previous category alterations have quickly been retracted.
Words by Emma Greedy