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More Than a Third of Oscar-Qualifying Films This Year Are Not Eligible for Best Picture

The Wrap
Story by Joe McGovern
from The Wrap
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Oscars shake-up: Over a third of 2025's qualifying films can't compete for Best Picture, revealing major Academy shifts in eligibility rules.
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  • Industry insiders reveal the Academy quietly raised the bar for Best Picture contenders, now requiring at least 45 minutes of on-screen dialogue - a move that shuts out many acclaimed foreign and indie darlings.
  • Sources say this surprising eligibility change is part of the Academy's effort to draw bigger audiences and boost ratings, favoring more mainstream, dialogue-driven fare over arthouse films.
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