Here’s how to watch the 2021 Oscars in Australia

The 2021 Oscars is fast approaching and luckily, there’s a way we cinephiles can tune in to the action in Australia.

While the Academy Awards has faced backlash in recent years for the lack of inclusivity in its nominations, the 2021 ceremony is still rolling ahead, albeit a little later than usual.

You see, while the ceremony is usually held in early February, it was delayed this time around due to the effects of the pandemic. Instead, this year’s awards will kick off on the morning of Monday, April 26th (Australian time).

To be exact, the Oscars will air in Australia live from the US on Channel 7 and 7plus on Monday, 26 April at 10 am.

For those who can’t watch it all unfold as it happens, there will be a prime time encore screening at 9.30 pm.

If you’re lucky enough to have access to Foxtel’s E! channel, then you can also check out the pre-show and red carpet action from 7 am.

As for how the pesky little thing known as the global pandemic will affect the proceedings, the ceremony is still set to be held in person.

However, nominees who live overseas who aren’t keen to travel at the moment will be able to attend a makeshift ceremony at venues in other locations like London.

Although the film industry has taken a bit of a beating in the last year, there are still a number of 10/10 flicks that have been nominated.

Against all odds and to the happy surprise of many, this year’s awards is shaping up to be one of the most diverse in its 93-year history.

For the first time ever, more than one woman has been nominated for Best Director, with Emerald Fennell and Chloé Zhao receiving nods for Promising Young Woman and Nomadland respectively.

Meanwhile, nine of the 20 acting nominees are people of colour, and women have also received the most nominations in one ceremony in Oscar history.

Steven Yeun has also become the first-ever American of Asian descent to be nominated for Best Actor thanks to his role in Minari.

It’s a change that’s well overdue, but one we’re pretty stoked about nonetheless. While we shall have to wait to see who wins, I’ll probably just be rooting for anyone who isn’t a straight white guy… just quietly.

You can check out the full list of nominees here.

For more on this topic, head over to the Film & TV Observer.

Check out a highlight reel from last year’s Oscars ceremony:

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