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As firefighters gradually gain control<\/a> over the wildfires across Los Angeles<\/a>, life in Hollywood is edging back toward normalcy. After a series of speed bumps<\/a>, the 2025 Oscar voting process is gearing back up, with a big milestone finally achieved as of 5 p.m. PT Friday.<\/p>\n There was a time just a few weeks ago when this year\u2019s Academy Awards felt quite uncertain<\/a>. Opportunities for some potential nominees to present their work to voters were canceled, with video presentations proposed instead. In-person screenings were rescheduled or spiked completely, as \u201cCarrying on like business as usual doesn\u2019t feel appropriate when the lives of so many we know and love have been devastated,\u201d an industry insider told Vanity Fair<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Academy CEO Bill Kramer<\/strong> has bumped the 2025 Oscar nominations voting deadline twice since the blazes began, first a two-day extension from January 12 to January 14, then again<\/a> to January 17. \u201cDue to the still-active fires in the Los Angeles area, we feel it is necessary to extend our voting period and move the date of our nominations announcement to allow additional time for our members,\u201d Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang<\/strong> said in a joint statement last week. \u201cAdditionally, as we want to be sensitive to the infrastructure and lodging needs of the region in these next few weeks, it is imperative that we make some changes to our schedule of events, which we believe will have the support of our industry.\u201d<\/p>\n As of publication time, the two most significant fires still active in the region are the Palisades fire, which has reached 43% containment, and the Eaton fire, which is now 73% contained. So far, 27 people are confirmed dead from the fires, which have consumed 40,697 acres and destroyed 12,845 structures. For the latest statistics, visit the Cal Fire website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The nomination voting deadline isn\u2019t the only fire-spurred change to the 2025 Oscar calendar. The official nomination announcement, which was previously scheduled for Friday, January 17, was moved to Thursday, January 23 at 5:30 a.m. PT. Typically a live and in-person affair, the contenders will be announced in a virtual event this year. Nominees predicted by Vanity Fair<\/em> include Cynthia Erivo<\/strong> in the Best Actress category for Wicked<\/em>, Colman Domingo as potential Best Actor for Sing-Sing<\/em>, and Zoe Salda\u00f1a<\/strong> as a possible Best Supporting Actress for Emilia P\u00e9rez.<\/em> (You can see VF<\/em>\u2019s full list of predictions here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Whoever is named, we won\u2019t see them at the annual luncheon for nominees. Typically a glitzy campaign stop for hopefuls, the star-studded event will not be held this year. In addition, the Academy\u2019s Scientific and Technical Awards\u2014scheduled for Tuesday, February 18\u2014have been postponed, and the new date is TBA.<\/p>\n One thing that hasn\u2019t changed is the big night, which, as of last week, remains firm and unwavering. \u201cThe 97th Oscars will still be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live at 7 p.m. ET\/4 p.m. PT on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and air live in more than 200 territories worldwide,\u201d Yang and Kramer reaffirmed on January 13, though they did so after noting \u201cthat all dates are subject to change.\u201d<\/p>\n When the ceremony is held, expect an occasionally somber tone and acknowledgment of the firefighters and aid workers who\u2019ve been toiling in the natural disaster. \u201cOur members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community, and we are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry,\u201d Yang and Kramer say. \u201cWe also look forward to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n