Steven Spielberg Tackles Netflix Over “Roma” Oscar Awards

Ace Hollywood Director, Steven Spielberg is not letting Netflix’s controversial sweep at the just concluded Oscars die down. According to IndieWire, he is taking it up with the Academy come April.

The filmmaker is reportedly against the streaming production company competing for any award at the Oscars and plans to share his concerns with the Academy at the upcoming Academy Board of Governors meeting in April.

He plans to rally round for changes that would exclude Netflix from future awards considerations by the Academy.

Recall that Netflix’s Alfonso Cuaron movie “Roma” took home the prize for three awards – best foreign-language film, best directing and best cinematography – an epoch occasion that was met by serious opposition from European movie makers.

Steven Spielberg’s campaign, alongside those of other filmmakers, is said to be geared towards ensuring that another movie, produced similarly to “Roma” hence not using the same playbook as other movies in the race, positioned to win the award with heavily backed campaigns will never make it to the ‘halls’ of the Academy as a contender.

Here is a summary their complaints:

• Netflix spent too much to market the movie. An Oscar strategist estimated Netflix’s Oscar spend on “Roma” to be $50 million, with $5 million on “Green Book”. ($25 million was reported by The New York Times but Netflix insists the awards were included into their full marketing budget.)
• The heavy marketing for “Roma” rubbished foreign-language distributors.
• “Roma” spent only three weeks in the theatre as an exclusive.
• Netflix doesn’t report box office records.
• Netflix doesn’t respect the 90-day theatrical window.
• Netflix movies are available in 190 countries, 24-7.

It is still not clear how the Academy will address these claims seeing as they cast their laws in murky shadows. It is a thrill however, to see how the proceedings unfold.

Steven Spielberg’s movie, “Green Book” won the award for best picture.