The Academy’s Board of Governors has tweaked the Oscar eligibility rules in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. During a meeting day before yesterday on the 28th of April, the board of governors approved a temporary hold on the requirement that a film needs a seven-day theatrical run in a commercial theater in Los Angeles County to qualify for the Oscars. Instead, films will be allowed to be released digitally without playing in theaters. But it is announced that only films that have already been planned for a theatrical release will be eligible for Oscar Gold.  
 
The Academy’s Board of Governors has approved rules and campaign regulations for the 93rd Academy Awards®. The official statement reads as follows: “The devastating COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of all Los Angeles County movie theaters as of Monday, March 16, 2020.  Current Academy Awards rules (under Rule Two, Eligibility) require that a film be shown in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County for a theatrical qualifying run of at least seven consecutive days, during which period screenings must occur at least three times daily.  Until further notice, and for the 93rd Awards year only, films that had a previously planned theatrical release but are initially made available on a commercial streaming or VOD service may qualify in the Best Picture, general entry and speciality categories for the 93rd Academy Awards under these provisions:  
 
1. The film must be made available on the secure Academy Screening Room member-only streaming site within 60 days of the film’s streaming or VOD release; 
 
2. The film must meet all other eligibility requirements.