How a streaming-only Hulu movie became an Oscar contender

Call it the Covid exception.

Back in the 2022 virtual Sundance Film Festival, the world was in the midst of an Omicron push when Oscar perennial Searchlight and streaming partner Hulu acquired "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande" from Sophie Hyde. The film drew praise for Best Actress Oscar winner Emma Thompson ("Howard's End"), who plays a widow who hires a sex worker (Daryl McCormack of "Peaky Blinders") to teach her about pleasure sexual. Aimed at smart adults, this movie fits in the Searchlight Oscar movie box.

When asked before the release, the distributor suggested to IndieWire that the film would likely chase the Emmys. Behind the scenes - and long before its scheduled June 17 release on Hulu - Searchlight appealed to the Academy to grant the film Oscar eligibility, even though the distributor had no intention of qualifying the film as rooms.

That's because even a four-wall week-long Oscar-qualifying release would require the film to debut streaming on HBO, not Hulu, thanks to an old Twentieth Century release deal. Fox (which ends December 31).< /p> Related Related

On May 18, the Academy announced its return to pre-pandemic rules that require week-long theatrical releases in one of six U.S. cities. Searchlight told the Academy that he made his exit plans based on the rules of the pandemic, not knowing how the theatrical world would shake out.

Would a similar plea work for other streaming-only features? The Academy does not change its official position. In this case, "Leo Grande" is riding high with excellent reviews (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) and easily qualifies for the BAFTAs because Lionsgate released it theatrically in the UK. He has also qualified for the PGA, SAG and Critics Choice Awards. With the comfort of the numbers, the Academy also qualified him. Searchlight can now proceed with booking Fall Festival tributes and mounting a true Thompson Rewards campaign.

Going forward, the Academy's new CEO, Bill Kramer, has every intention of focusing on motion pictures when it comes to the Oscars. But when it comes to this year's ricochet rules, it's clear that anything goes.

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