Andrea Riseborough | Photo Credit: Maja Smijkowska
Hollywood’s film academy said Friday it was reviewing this year’s campaigns for Oscar nominations, a day after a media report surprisingly raised questions for British actress Andrea Riseborough.
On Tuesday, Riseborough was nominated for best actress for playing an alcoholic single mother in the little-seen film “To Leslie,” a blow to awards pundits who expected her to be in the mix. Didn’t do it.
Media newsletter Puck reported Thursday that the unexpected nomination had raised questions about whether an aggressive campaign for Riseborough violated lobbying rules set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Academy released a statement Friday saying the organization was “reviewing campaign procedures surrounding this year’s nominees to ensure no guidelines are violated.” Riseborough was not named in the statement.
The purpose of the review is to “inform us whether a new era of social media and digital communication may require changes to the guidelines,” the statement said.
The Academy limits how studios can reach out to voters, how often and what they can say in any communications as part of their Oscar campaigns.
Puck reported that the wife of the film’s director, actress Mary McCormack, and friends had “emailed and called several members of the Academy’s actors’ branch, asking them to see the little-seen heady drama and Riseborough’s stellar performance”. Begged to post online.”
Dozens of A-list stars, Puck said, “admired her and helped her win the coveted nomination.”
Representatives for McCormack and Riseborough did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
According to Box Office Mojo, “To Leslie” has earned $27,000 at the film box office since its release in October.
“We are confident in the integrity of our nominations and voting processes and support genuine grassroots campaigns for excellence,” the Academy statement said.
The winners of the Academy Awards will be announced on March 12.