Academy Moves 82nd Oscars to Early March

Oscar host Hugh Jackman. Photo by ABC/Brett Ratner. © A.M.P.A.S.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has moved back its date one week for the 2010 Academy Awards. The 82nd Oscars will take place March 7 next year, Academy President Sid Ganis announced Wednesday. Again, the ceremony will take place at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. This year, the ceremony took place February 22nd, the final Sunday of February which is its traditional date.

An Academy spokesperson told indieWIRE the organization moved the Oscar ceremony to March 7 in order to avoid coinciding with the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, which will be held on Sunday, February 28. Four years ago, the organization moved the date to early March in 2006 for the same reason. In 2004, AMPAS shifted the Oscars to late February from late March.

The nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

Traditionally, the Film Independent Spirit Awards take place the Saturday prior to the Oscar ceremony, so presumably the event will shift to Saturday, March 6. Film Independent was unavailable for immediate confirmation.

Key Oscar dates currently scheduled are:

Tuesday, December 1, 2009: Official Screen Credits forms due
Monday, December 28, 2009: Nominations ballots mailed
Saturday, January 23, 2010: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PT
Tuesday, February 2, 2010: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT, Samuel Goldwyn Theater
Wednesday, February 10, 2010: Final ballots mailed
Monday, February 15, 2010: Nominees Luncheon
Saturday, February 20, 2010: Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards presentation
Tuesday, March 2, 2010: Final polls close 5 p.m. PT
Sunday, March 7, 2010: 82nd Annual Academy Awards presentation