The house lights are out on the what would have been the 16th annual Chicago Film Critics Awards. The critics voted 4-1 to suspend the show in protest of the ban on sending preview videos, called screeners, to critics groups like Chicago to reevaluate Oscar contenders.
By suspending the show, the the Chicago Film Critics Association “had an opportunity to make a statement about something grossly unfair and unethical,” stated CFCA president Dann Gire. “Doing nothing changes nothing.”
The Motion Pictures Producers Association imposed the ban on behalf of the major Hollywood studios ostensibly to prevent video piracy. Screeners now will be sent exclusively to voting Academy Awards members.
With the ban, the MPAA is “playing the Oscar game with loaded dice,” charged Gire. “It’s a sly and not too well-camouflaged attempt for the big studios to give themselves an edge in the awards business. If the big studios can get all screeners banned, then the smaller labels lose out,” since they don’t have the capability for multiple screenings and big-budget ad campaigns.
Gire credited “a great board” ? the Tribune’s Michael Wilmington and John Patrakis and the Liberty Suburban Press” Peter Sobczynski, citing their articulation of the unfairness of the issue as being why “we were able to get a majority vote in favor of suspension.”
CFCA members decided to suspend the show, rather than cancel as the L.A. group did, “in case the MPAA came to its senses and we could go on with the show.” On Friday, the MPAA stated its decision was ironclad and non-rescindable.
While the awards ceremony per se is probably history, Gire said the association will continue to present the Big Shoulders and the new Studs Terkel Awards at a ceremony at a date to be determined.
Gire, the Daily Herald’s long-time, respected film critic, has been CFCA president since 1995. The awards show was launched in 1987 by former agency account exec Sue Kiner, now living in London.
