Key Dates Announced for 85th Academy Awards

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced key dates for the 85th Academy Awards season.

The key dates are:  
Friday, November 30, 2012: Official Screen Credits due Saturday, December 1, 2012: Governors Awards presentation Monday, December 17, 2012: Nominations voting begins Thursday, January 3, 2013: Nominations voting ends 5 p.m. PT Thursday, January 10, 2013: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT, Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater Monday, February 4, 2013: Nominees Luncheon Friday, February 8, 2013: Final voting begins Saturday, February 9, 2013: Scientific and Technical Awards presentation Tuesday, February 19, 2013: Final voting ends 5 p.m. PT Sunday, February 24, 2013: 85th Academy Awards presentation

In an effort to provide members and the public a longer period of time to see the nominated films, the Academy will reveal the 85th Academy Awards nominations on January 10, five days earlier than previously announced.

In addition, this will be the first time the Academy will provide its membership the opportunity to vote electronically. Together with Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and Everyone Counts, the Academy has been developing an electronic voting process for more than a year. The Academy conducted extensive research and held numerous focus groups with its members to ensure a smooth transition and widespread adoption.

The Academy will make several voting resources available to members during the transition, including the installation of assisted voting stations in Los Angeles, New York and London, a 24-hour telephone help line during voting periods, and paper ballots.

In the pre-Nominations phase, members will continue to vote via paper ballot in eight categories due to specialized screening schedules and processes. Those categories are Animated Feature Film, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Hairstyling and Visual Effects.

The Academy Awards ceremony will be held at The Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. A 90-minute red carpet show will immediately precede the broadcast.