News

GKids Pushes Back A Letter to Momo to Qualify for Oscars in 2013

The distribution company GKIDS has pushed back its U.S. theatrical debut of Hiroyuki Okiura and Production I.G's A Letter to Momo film to 2013 to qualify for the Academy Awards that will be held in early 2014. GKIDS had originally planned to release the film in theaters throughout the U.S. at the end of the year. A film must play in a Los Angeles County theater for at least one week to qualify for Academy Award consideration. Production I.G had noted that it has been aiming to have the film nominated for the Animated Feature award at the Academy Awards.

A Letter to Momo follows a girl named Momo who struggles with her father's sudden passing and her move to the countryside. Momo finds an otherworldly surprise at her new home. okiura spent seven years planning, writing, storyboarding, and directing the film; it is his first return to the proverbial director's chair since Jin-Roh in 2000. The film held its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September.

GKIDS will still qualify Goro Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's From Up On Poppy Hill film for the 2013 Academy Awards. GKIDS will qualify three other animated films this year for the 2013 Academy Awards, making it possible for at least 16 films total to be submitted for the award.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences allows up to five nominations in the Best Animated Feature category if 16 or more films are submitted and accepted; if only 13-15 films are accepted, the academy will allow only a maximum of four nominations, and when 8-12 films are accepted, only 2-3 features may be nominated.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip.

Source: Thompson on Hollywood