The Television Academy’s rules changes for the 73rd Emmy Awards competition have been announced, including new and restructured awards categories.
“Our annual review of Emmy rules and procedures is more important than ever,” said Television Academy chairman and CEO Frank Scherma, president of RadicalMedia. “Our Awards Committee and Board of Governors undertake this annual evaluation with a very thoughtful and analytical approach, to ensure that the Emmys remain relevant and in step with our industry’s ongoing evolution.”
As a result of that process, the Board approved a number of changes for the 2021 Emmy Awards rules and procedures, as recommended by the Awards Committee, notable of which are:
Variety Talk and Variety Sketch Series merged into one category: Outstanding Variety Series
Variety Talk and Variety Sketch Series were previously awarded in one category, until they were split in 2015. The categories have been re-combined into one category for Outstanding Variety Series.
Categories for individual achievements in Variety Series will continue to include both Variety Talk and Variety Sketch Series.
Short Form Comedy/Drama Series and Short Form Variety Series merged into one category: Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series
The two short form program categories, both of which include scripted programming, have been combined into one category for Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series.
Anthology Series eligibility moved to Limited Series, creating new Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category
Anthology series will now enter the Emmy competition with Limited Series, resulting in a new category — Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. This will align storytelling formats throughout the competition. Individual achievements will compete in the relevant categories as defined by the program category.
Previously, an anthology series could enter the competition in either the Comedy or Drama Series categories, or entrants could break up the series into individually entered, stand-alone movies.
New category: Outstanding Stunt Performance by an Individual or Team in a Drama, Comedy, Limited Series or Movie
This new award will recognize stunt performers themselves; previously, there have only been stunt coordination categories.The award will acknowledge actual stunt artists whose performances across the global television medium are integral to storytelling each season. Team entries will be capped at four entrants.
Additional items and clarifications include:
To clarify the distinction between theatrical motion pictures and television movies during the ongoing pandemic, any non-documentary film placed on the AMPAS viewing platform for Oscar consideration will be deemed a theatrical motion picture, and thus ineligible for the Emmy competition.
Additionally, the previously announced rule will apply: Effective in 2021, any programs that have been nominated for an Oscar are no longer eligible to enter the Primetime Emmy Awards competition.
In regards to Children’s Programming, as previously confirmed on Nov. 2, the Television Academy and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences have agreed to migrate all potential Children’s Programming entries previously submitted in the Primetime Emmys to the Daytime Emmys. In addition, Children’s Animated Programs, which target an audience aged 6-12, will also migrate to the Daytime Emmy competition.
As the majority of Children’s Programming categories have historically been awarded in the Daytime Emmys, the decision eliminates confusion and streamlines the submissions process.
Daytime Programming, Children’s Programming and Animation peer groups will continue to vote on excellence in children’s programming for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Daytime Emmys.
Additional changes or clarifications were approved that maintain the integrity of the Emmy Awards in many Creative Arts categories, by further defining eligibility and qualifications, refining the submissions processes and requiring added pre-entry vetting. In some cases, existing categories have been combined or streamlined. The complete list of awards changes for the 73rd Emmy Awards can be found here.
Latest Crop of VES Fellows Unveiled
The Visual Effects Society (VES) has announced the Society’s newest VES Fellows, who will be celebrated with the other honorees at a special VES Honors event later this month. This year’s venerated VES Fellows who will be bestowed with the post-nominal letters “VES” are: Matt Aitken, Girish Balakrishnan, Randall Balsmeyer, Michael Conte, Lisa Cooke, Bryan Grill, Thomas Knop, Arnon Manor and Susan Rowe.
VES 2024 Fellows
VES Fellow Matt Aitken, VES. Aitken has been an integral part of Weta FX since it first opened its doors. With two Oscar nominations and five VES Award wins, including the top award of Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature for Avengers: Infinity War, Aitken’s versatility and creative talent are foundational to the studio’s success. As head of visual effects, Aitken leads Weta FX’s artists across three countries, and is responsible for filmmaker and studio relationships. Prior to assuming this executive role, Aitken was one of Weta FX’s most experienced visual effects supervisors on projects including Avengers: Endgame, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Marvel’s Eternals. Aitken has been an active VES member for 20 years. He was instrumental in establishing the New Zealand VES Section in 2011, the 5th VES Section to be created, and was New Zealand Section chair for its first five years of operation.
VES Fellow Girish Balakrishnan, VES. Balakrishnan has more than a decade of experience driving business studio strategies, business development and production innovation across live action, animation and games. As director of creative innovation at Netflix, Balakrishnan leads the content & production studio investment strategy on the application of... Read More