With 2020 throwing up many challenges for the Film industry, it’s not surprising that the 2021 award season has seen some changes to the usual calendar of events. The dates for submissions and ceremonies have largely been delayed, and the criteria of release dates and box office takings that titles have to meet to be eligible for submission, have been relaxed to accommodate cinema closures across the globe in 2020. You can read more about these changes here
So, what’s changed? Below is a timeline of the latest dates for key award ceremonies this year, for both the Film and Gaming industries (dates correct as of January 2021)
Film
FEBRUARY 2021
Feb. 3: Golden Globe Awards nominations announced
Feb. 4: Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations announced
Feb. 7: Critics Choice Awards film nominations announced
Feb. 9: Oscars shortlists announced
Feb. 16: Writers Guild of America Awards film screenplay nominations announced
Feb. 28: Golden Globe Awards ceremony (New eligibility requirements stipulate more lenient entrance standards for streaming titles, among other changes)
Feb TBA: British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) – date to be announced

MARCH 2021
March 2: Art Directors Guild nominations announced
March 3: Annie Awards nominations announced
March 5-10: Oscar nominations voting
March 7: Critics Choice Awards (The ceremony usually takes place in mid-January, but was postponed in the wake of the pandemic)
March 14: Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony (Pushed back by two months)
March 14: Grammys ceremony (Postponed from original January date)
March 15: Oscar nominations announced
March 21: Writers Guild of America Awards ceremony
March 24: Producers Guild of America Awards
APRIL 2021
April 6: Visual Effects Society Awards ceremony
April 10: Art Directors Guild Awards ceremony
April 10: Directors Guild of America Awards ceremony
April 11: British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards ceremony (BAFTA)
April 15-20th: Final Oscars voting window
April 16: Annie Awards ceremony
April 24: Film Independent Spirit Awards ceremony
April 25: The Oscars ceremony (The 93rd Oscars ceremony was originally due to take place on 28th February 2021)

Gaming
FEBRUARY 2021
February 24th: EGR Nordics Virtual Awards 2021
February 28th: Global Gaming Awards – shortlist announced
MAY 2021
May 26th: SiGMA Asia Gaming Awards
MARCH 2021
March 25th: British Academy Games Awards (BAFTA)
March 16th – 20th: SXSW Gaming Awards
March 21st: Writers Guild of America Awards
JUNE 2021
June 29th: ICE London
June TBA: Global Gaming Awards – date to be announced
JULY 2021
July TBA – Game Developers Choice Awards – date to be announced
NOVEMBER 2021
November TBA: Golden Joystick Awards – date to be announced
DECEMBER 2021
Dec 7th: SBC Awards (#SBCAWARDS)
December TBA: The Game Awards – date to be announced
Sarah Dyson – Client Account Manager