Critics' Choice Awards Postponed Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic

The Critics’ Choice Awards has become the latest star-studded event to face the brunt of the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. The awards show decided to postpone next year’s ceremony due to the global health crisis, so it has become the fourth high-profile event to change its date in the span of five days.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 2021 Critics’ Choice Awards will now take place on March 7. The decision of postponing the event comes a few days after The Academy announced that the Oscars is being pushed back for two months. Hollywood’s biggest night will now take place on April 25, 2021 due to the life-threatening illness.

In a statement obtained by the media outlet, Joey Berlin, CEO of Critics’ Choice Association, revealed that movies and TV series are turning out to be a source of “comfort” and “education” for people who are inside their homes because of the lockdown.

He also explained that the organization will be extending the eligibility window beyond the calendar year. The films released in 2020 and the first two months of 2021 will be eligible for getting a nomination at the function while all the TV work released in 2020 will be eligible for nominations.

“Now more than ever, people are turning to film and television as a source of comfort, as a means of education, and as a way to connect. "With the revised timeline, we are looking forward to celebrating all of the brilliant new work created during this extended season,” Berlin said.

Taye Diggs will be hosting the show for the third consecutive year and it will take place at Santa Monica's Barker Hangar.

Started in 1995, the Critics’ Choice Awards is known for honoring the best in film and TV.

Apart from Oscars and Critics’ Choice, events like the Film Independent Spirit Awards and the BAFTAs have also changed their respective dates.

The 2021 Spirit Awards was previously scheduled to take place on Feb. 27, 2021, but it will now take place on April 24, 2021. The eligibility period, which originally started on Jan. 1, 2020 and was supposed to end on Dec. 31, 2020, has been extended until Feb. 28, 2021.

Meanwhile, the British Academy Film Awards is scheduled to take place on April 11 next year.

Key Dates For Critics’ Choice Awards 2020/2021season:

TELEVISION AWARDS TIMELINE (Honoring the finest in television achievement in 2020)

Nov. 2, 2020 – Submissions Open
Jan. 4, 2021 – NomComs begin consideration
Jan. 15, 2021 – NomComs render recommendations
January 18, 2021 – Critics’ Choice Awards TV nominations announcement
March 4, 2021 – Final ballots go out to CCA TV Branch members
March 5, 2021 – Deadline for returning final ballots

FILM AWARDS TIMELINE (Honoring the finest in cinematic achievement in 2020 and January/February 2021)

Feb. 1, 2021 – Nominating ballots go out to CCA Film Branch members
Feb. 5, 2021 – Deadline for returning nominating ballots
Feb. 7, 2021 – Critics’ Choice Awards Film nominations announcement
March 4, 2021 – Final ballots go out to CCA Film Branch members
March 5, 2021 – Deadline for returning final ballots