The Oscars Won’t Rescind Andrea Riseborough’s Nomination

Andrea Riseborough will remain one of this year’s Best Actress nominees for her performance in the indie film To Leslie.

Bill Kramer, the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, made the announcement Tuesday, saying that concerns surrounding the campaign last week did not warrant the possibility of Riseborough’s nomination being rescinded.

The Academy announced on Friday it would conduct a review of the campaign procedures for this year’s Oscar nominees. Riseborough’s nomination confused some people who wondered how she had landed a Best Actress spot without a traditionally heavily funded campaign.

“The Academy has determined the activity in question does not rise to the level that the film’s nomination should be rescinded,” Kramer wrote in the statement shared with BuzzFeed News. “However, we did discover social media and outreach campaigning tactics that caused concern. These tactics are being addressed with the responsible parties directly.”

On Jan. 26, Puck reported that Mary McCormack, the wife of To Leslie director Michael Morris, “emailed and called tons of members of the Academy’s actors branch, begging them to see the little-watched alcoholic drama and post online about Riseborough’s searing performance.”

BuzzFeed News has reached out to representatives for the film’s producers, as well as Riseborough and McCormack, for comment on the Academy’s ruling. Riseborough has not publicly addressed the review. 

In his statement, Kramer added that the changes regarding campaign rules will be made after this year’s Oscars season and will be shared with Academy members to “help create a better framework for respectful, inclusive, and unbiased campaigning.” 

“The Academy strives to create an environment where votes are based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible films and achievements,” he said.