You thought it was nearing an end, didn’t you? No, the 2022 Oscar season isn’t as long as the pandemic delayed 2021 season, but it sure is close. AMPAS members don’t even begin to vote on the nominations until January 27. By the time voting is over on Feb. 1, the 2022 Sundance Film Festival will be over, the Grammys will have already aired and networks and streamers will be knee-deep into their plans for…Emmy season.
And while many AMPAS members have likely caught up with many of the campaigning films over the holiday break it also means a full month for studios to hit their inboxes with virtual Q&As and, in some cases, in-person events invites (how Omicron will affect these is on a case by case basis). Live in Los Angeles? Look for even more FYC ads as you traverse the city as we wonder how many times Netflix can change the ads for “The Lost Daughter” (listen, if you own your own display network why not?), if Sony Pictures buys outdoor for a “Spider-Man: No Way Home” FYC campaign and if Focus goes hard for the “Belfast” Best Picture win in phase one (because no film really wins it in phase two).
Keeping all this in mind, we thought revisiting all the key dates for the guild and precursor honors was appropriate. Also, well, there are a ton of them still to go. And Jan. 27? That’s a doozy.
Jan 12: SAG Awards nominations announced
Heads up: First big guild precursor. If your picture doesn’t get an acting nomination in any category here a Best Picture win is highly unlikely.
Jan 12: BAFTA longlists released
Heads up: If your movie doesn’t make these lists at all (and it qualifies) you’re in big trouble.
Jan 18: USC Scripter Awards announced
Heads up: Usually a reasonable approximation of the Adapted Screenplay field (emphasis on usually).
Jan 21: ACE Eddie Awards nominations announced
Jan 24: ADG Awards nominations announced
Jan 26: CDG Awards nominations announced
Jan 27: Academy Awards nominations voting begins
Jan 27: PGA Awards nominations announced
Jan 27: DGA Awards nominations announced
Jan 27: WGA Awards nominations announced
Heads up: These nods will be more influential as they drop the day voting begins. I would not want to be “snubbed” here.
Feb 1: Academy Awards nominations voting ends
Feb 3: BAFTA Awards nominations
Heads up: A potential teaser for the big reveal the following week.
Feb 8: Academy Awards nominations revealed
Heads up: Either you’re in or you’re out.
Feb 22: Annie Awards
Feb 26: PGA Awards
Heads up: The Theatrical Motion Picture winner here has lined up with Best Picture 22 out of 32 times. Not bad, but it’s matched just three times over the past six years.
Feb 26: ACE Eddie Awards
Feb 26: USC Scripter Awards
Heads up: The winner here and the Adapted Screenplay winner haven’t lined up for the past three award seasons. Before then? Perfectly matched for eight straight years.
Feb 27: SAG Awards
Heads up: Seriously. Don’t read into the Ensemble winner.
March 5: ADG Awards
March 6: Film Independent Spirit Awards
Heads up: Look for Oscar-nominated, but not Spirit Award-nominated presenters to make sure they get that airtime and walk the blue carpet.
March 9: CDG Awards
March 12: DGA Awards
Heads up: Wins for Ben Affleck and Sam Mendes aside, perhaps the most reliable Oscar precursor of them all.
March 13: BAFTA Awards
Heads up: Their influence keeps growing and growing. Pay attention.
March 17: Academy Awards voting begins
March 20: WGA Awards
March 22: Academy Awards voting ends
March 27: Academy Awards