'Kiss the Future', which screened in 139 AMC Theatres nationwide, has been ruled ineligible for the Best Documentary Oscar due to a technicality, sparking controversy.
- Sep 25, 2024
AceShowbiz - A new documentary produced by Ben Affleck and [ =Matt Damon], titled "Kiss the Future", has been ruled ineligible to compete for the Best Documentary at the upcoming Oscars. The film, which screened in 139 AMC Theatres nationwide including qualifying markets like Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta, was disqualified by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Academy's documentary branch claims that "Kiss the Future" only played twice per day during its run, failing to meet the requirement of three screenings daily as stipulated in the Oscar rules. Affleck, Damon, and fellow producer Sarah Anthony filed an appeal, which was rejected.
Film director Nenad Cicin-Sain now argues that the Academy should honor the technicality, which shouldn't exclude the film. He explained that the Oscar rules do not specify that screenings must occur on a single screen within a qualifying market. By combining all qualifying markets, "Kiss the Future" played more than three times a day.
Cicin-Sain added that the Academy provided a rulebook for the 96th Oscars, which does not mention the need for a documentary to play in one location three times daily. However, the Academy claims a new rule was added for the 97th Academy Awards, stating that screenings must occur in a single venue.
Cicin-Sain criticized the Academy for enforcing the letter of the rule instead of its spirit, as the film's wide release in multiple theaters met the intended goal of encouraging people to watch films in cinemas.
The documentary controversy has generated support for Cicin-Sain's argument. Many industry professionals and the public believe the Academy's decision is unfair, considering the film's success and the filmmakers' efforts to meet the spirit of the rules.
"Kiss the Future", which tells the story of the 1990 siege of Sarajevo and the impact of U2's music on its residents, has won multiple awards and garnered widespread acclaim. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and U.S. Tribeca Festival.