What the WGA Pushing Back Its Awards Means for the Oscars: It’s Complicated

Anne Thompson and Samantha Bergeson
·3 min read

It’s a shocker. In an unexpected move, the Writers Guild of America has pushed back its annual WGA Awards ceremony until April 14, 2024, a month after the Oscars, which will be held on March 10, 2024. The recently resolved WGA strike may have had some impact on this decision, in order to give members more time to fulfill the WGA submission process.

While it’s true that many animated, independent, and overseas productions are not WGA signatories and therefore are not eligible for WGA Awards, the late-breaking award winners are always a useful bellwether for a film’s eventual performance at the Oscars. It will mainly make Oscar predictions less clear.

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Screenwriters recently liberated from strike jail have finally been able to talk about their projects, from Noah Baumbach (“Barbie”) to Eric Roth (“Killers of the Flower Moon”). They can still hawk their work on the films, and the February 21 WGA screenplay nominations will still have an impact on the Oscar race, as final voting takes place between February 22 and 27, while WGA members will cast their ballots February 23 through March 8. By the time the Beyond Words: Writers Guild Awards panel featuring the nominated screenwriters unfolds March 7th, Oscar votes will already be in hand.

The WGA Awards are often among the liveliest and most political of the awards shows, and this year’s will be no exception. Will they get support from studios and streamers for tables and presenters? Their best support may come from the television side, as the main impact the show might have is to add some heat to some 2024 Emmy campaigns.

The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike led to a series of premieres and award shows to be delayed. New Regency and 20th Century opted to shelve Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders” despite playing the fall festival season. Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” was also pulled from opening the 2023 Venice Film Festival, with a new release date for April 2024.

The 2023 American Cinematheque Awards have been pushed from the scheduled November 4 ceremony due to the strike, with a new date being announced soon. Helen Mirren is set to be honored with the 37th American Cinematheque Award, while Kevin Goetz and Screen Engine will be recognized with the Power of Cinema Award.

See the key dates for the 2024 WGA Awards below.

2023

NOVEMBER

Wed. Nov. 1                Submissions Open in ALL Categories: Screenplays (Original, Adapted, Documentary), Series (Drama, Comedy, Limited, New), TV-Radio/Audio-New Media Scripts and Paul Selvin Award (WGAW)

DECEMBER

Fri. Dec. 22                 Deadline for submissions: Series (Drama, Comedy, New, Limited);

TV-Radio/Audio-New Media Scripts and Paul Selvin Award (WGAW)

2024

JANUARY

Mon. Jan. 22               Preliminary Series (Drama, Comedy, New, Limited) and Screenplay (Original and Adapted) online voting begins

FEBRUARY

Fri. Feb. 9                   Deadline for Preliminary Series (Drama, Comedy, New, Limited) and Screenplay (Original and Adapted)

Wed. Feb. 21              Screenplay (Original, Adapted, Documentary) and Television, New Media, News, Radio/Audio, and Promotional Writing Nominations Announced

Fri. Feb. 23                 Final Series & Screenplay online voting begins

MARCH

Thur. Mar. 7               Beyond Words: Writers Guild Awards-nominated screenwriters panel

Fri. Mar. 8                   Deadline for Final Series & Screenplay online voting

TBA                             “And the Nominees Are…” Writers Guild Awards nominees panel

APRIL

Sun. April. 14             2024 WRITERS GUILD AWARDS (76TH Annual)

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