Oscar changes rollout rules

In a reversal from the Oscar rule changes created last year, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ board of governors said Tuesday that the controversial multi-city theatrical rollout requirements for the feature and short documentary categories will be eliminated for the 81st Academy Awards.

To qualify for next year’s Oscars, documentary features must run for a minimum of seven days in Los Angeles County and the borough of Manhattan. Documentary short subjects must run for a minimum of seven days in either Los Angeles County or the borough of Manhattan.

This eliminates the rollout mandated for qualification for this year’s competition, which required a minimum of 14 exhibitions in 10 states for features, and a single exhibition in at least four cities for shorts. These rollouts were in addition to seven-day qualifying runs in Los Angeles or Manhattan.

-- Mark Olsen