The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science will be, for the first time, allowing movies that have been released on streaming platforms and/ or digital release to qualify for the 2021 Oscars.

The change isn’t permanent and looks to be applicable for about a year only. This is, of course, due to the current pandemic situation that forced many theatres to close.

Despite the inclusion, there is still a criteria the streaming movie must fulfill to be eligible for an Oscars nomination.

Usually, for a movie to be eligible, it must have a theatrical run for seven days. Specifically, in theatres within Los Angeles County.

For now, however, the Academy has decided that for a movie to be eligible, it must have had a previously planned theatrical release.

This would mean that movies like Trolls: World Tour and the upcoming Scoob!, are deemed eligible for a nomination. Only because of the fact that they had a previously planned theatrical release.

If you’re thinking how Netflix’s The Irishman had an Oscar’s nomination, that’s because it complied with that rule. It actually had a short theatrical run in some theatres.

The Academy also mentioned that on a yet undetermined date, this rule may no longer apply when theatres reopen. By then, the default rules will take hold once more.

To make things a little easier, the Academy will be expanding the number of qualifying theatres across the USA’s metropolitan areas when theatres reopen.

Of course, the Academy also noted that due to the “shifting landscape surrounding the global pandemic caused by COVID-19,” all rules and matters of eligibility are subject to change.