I know this is going to ruin your morning, but Variety is reporting that according to Acedemy rules Fahrenheit 911 should be ineligible for a Best Documentary Oscar at next years Academy Awards.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" was apparently shown last week on Cuban state-run TV. According to Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences rules, a feature is disqualified for a documentary Oscar if it airs on TV or the Internet anywhere in the world within nine months of its bigscreen run....Anyone want to bet they "forget" the rules or nominate the picture in the Best Picture category? Given that Photoshop 911 is more fiction than fact it probably belongs in the Best Picture category anyway...
Update: The relevant rule section from the A.M.P.A.S. - Rule 3 and Rule 12.
Update 2: The Academy doesn't care.



Comments (13)
Did Cuba pay for broadcast ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Shawn Levasseur | August 3, 2004 10:33 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Did Cuba pay for broadcast rights? If not, one could call it an "unauthorized use" of the film and it would be still eligible. It isn't exactly implausible to imagine Castro disrespecting copyrights. (Admittably its isn't implausable for Moore to give Castro permission either...)
1. Posted by Shawn Levasseur | August 3, 2004 10:33 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 3, 2004 10:33
2. Posted by Jess | August 3, 2004 10:37 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Don't you think it would be fair if they "forgot" the rules in this case? After all, I'm sure the film was broadcast in Cuba without the consent of either Michael Moore or the studio. Essentially, it's a bootlegging situation that's beyond the relevant parties' control.
2. Posted by Jess | August 3, 2004 10:37 AM |
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Posted on August 3, 2004 10:37
3. Posted by physics geek | August 3, 2004 10:58 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Spielberg has already claimed that it's worthy of Best Picture consideration. If Kerry wins this November, I'll bet that Moore wins.
3. Posted by physics geek | August 3, 2004 10:58 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 3, 2004 10:58
4. Posted by Professor Chaos | August 3, 2004 11:25 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Does Cuba count as part of the world?
4. Posted by Professor Chaos | August 3, 2004 11:25 AM |
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Posted on August 3, 2004 11:25
5. Posted by Laurence Simon | August 3, 2004 12:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
They rememebred the rules to keep a piece of palestinian propaganda out for a year, so I figure they'll have to block Moore and let Super Size Me win.
Which, in a way, could be the story of Michael Moore's life.
5. Posted by Laurence Simon | August 3, 2004 12:12 PM |
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Posted on August 3, 2004 12:12
6. Posted by Kevin | August 3, 2004 1:58 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Sorry, I thought "Supersize Me" WAS the story of Michael Moore's life.
6. Posted by Kevin | August 3, 2004 1:58 PM |
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Posted on August 3, 2004 13:58
7. Posted by Kevin | August 3, 2004 1:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Sorry, I thought "Supersize Me" WAS the story of Michael Moore's life.
7. Posted by Kevin | August 3, 2004 1:59 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 3, 2004 13:59
8. Posted by David Anderson | August 3, 2004 3:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Remember, he got booed off the stage the last time he got an oscar, I think this will give the Academy a reason NOT to invite him.
8. Posted by David Anderson | August 3, 2004 3:23 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 3, 2004 15:23
9. Posted by amy | August 3, 2004 5:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Don't know the rules, but wouldn't it make sense that this airing on tv rule would probably apply to best picture as well?
9. Posted by amy | August 3, 2004 5:26 PM |
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Posted on August 3, 2004 17:26
10. Posted by amy | August 3, 2004 5:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
From the best picture catagory, doesn't this eliminate it here as well?
3. A picture first theatrically exhibited outside the U.S. prior to the Los Angeles qualifying run shall be eligible for submission provided the prior exhibition takes place in a commercial motion picture theater after January 1, 2000, with the following further conditions:
a) the film may not be exhibited publicly in any other medium for a six-month period following the commencement of its initial theatrical engagement, and
b) after the six-month period, the film may play in non-theatrical forms provided they are outside the U.S. (No film which is shown inside the U.S. in any non-theatrical form prior to its qualifying Los Angeles run shall be eligible for Academy Awards.)
10. Posted by amy | August 3, 2004 5:40 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 3, 2004 17:40
11. Posted by Claire | August 3, 2004 8:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Unauthorized" un huh . . .
11. Posted by Claire | August 3, 2004 8:07 PM |
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Posted on August 3, 2004 20:07
12. Posted by -S- | August 4, 2004 5:52 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
From yesterday:
">http://suzyrice.com/BIRD/2004/08/moore-mumbo-jumbo-spam.html
I can't believe that Spielberg suggests "F:9/11" is "Best Picture" material. I mean, I can just not believe he'd even think such a thing, much less say it.
On the other hand, I have a saved photo of Spielberg deplaning in Cuba a year or thereabouts ago, for a "young filmmakers'" program there. You just never know.
~But, hey, Miramax has never even HEARD of Cuba!!~
12. Posted by -S- | August 4, 2004 5:52 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 4, 2004 05:52
13. Posted by -S- | August 4, 2004 5:53 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Sorry, I'll try this again:
From yesterday, I wrote...
13. Posted by -S- | August 4, 2004 5:53 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 4, 2004 05:53