”And the Oscar goes to… Alfonso Cuarón, 'Roma.'"
Steven Spielberg has explained his reasoning behind asking the board of governors of 
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to vote for a new rule that would 
prevent simultaneous awards-contender releases on streaming platforms and in 
movie theaters. The Oscar winning filmmaker wrote in a statement emailed to 'The New 
York Times,' 
Spielberg’s comments somewhat echo those he made at the Cinema Audio Society 
Awards in February when he said, 
While many have surmised that Spielberg was particularly targeting Netflix with his 
wishes for the way titles are deemed eligible to be nominated for a coveted statuette, 
'Times' sources said that Spielberg felt his views on the streaming giant were being 
"overstated" in the media and that he was primarily concerned not with Netflix, but with 
exhibitors who have dismissed efforts to change their exclusive 90-day period to 
play films. Both AMC and Regal chose not to play Netflix's Oscar hopeful Roma as part 
of their best picture showcases this year, which Spielberg wished them to do, sources 
told the 'Times.' According to those sources, the directors aim is to have exhibitors, 
studios and streaming services come together to save "the motion picture 
theatrical art form.” 'Roma' won three Oscars at this year's ceremony including best 
director which suggests that it was a serious contender for the best picture nod too. 
Spielberg was just one among the Hollywood community who expressed a desire to 
make it harder for films that do not receive sizable theatrical runs to compete for the 
Academy's top honor. However, Netflix will not face fresh hurdles in the quest to win a 
best picture Oscar, following the Academy’s annual April rules meeting - which 
Spielberg did not attend due to filming commitments in New York. On Tuesday, the 
54-person board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted 
to maintain Rule Two, Eligibility — the one requiring no more than a one-week run in an 
L.A. County theater to qualify for the best picture Oscar race — for the season leading up 
to the 92nd Oscars, which will take place on Feb. 9, 2020. 
The statement also quoted outgoing Academy president John Bailey as saying, 
To read more on this story, head to THR.com. 
For The Hollywood Reporter News, I’m Lyndsey Rodrigues.
