Ben Affleck And Matt Damon Documentary Controversy Intensifies
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s documentary Kiss the Future seemed to be a shoo-in for an Academy Award nomination when the filmmaker/actor duo submitted their latest project for the entity’s consideration several months ago.
But when the Academy rejected the application based on the number of times per day the film played in theaters in the required markets, Affleck and Damon entered an appeal. Their appeal was summarily rejected on Monday of this week, but rule changes that went into effect after the film’s submission and separate rules for documentary films look to give the pair hope.
The Academy’s Rules
The Academy has had a rule in force stating that in order for a film to qualify for an Oscar nomination, it must be playing in “the same commercial motion picture theater” a minimum of three times each day for a calendar week.
Earlier in 2024, the Academy updated its policies under its Special Rules for the Documentary Feature Film Award to require the same set number of minimum showings, seeming to sink Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s chances of legitimizing their argument.
But Nenad Cicin-Sain, the director of Kiss the Future, stated to the media that this particular section of rules cited by the Academy applies to feature films and NOT documentary films.
Kiss The Future Timing
The director went on to note that documentary feature films and documentary films are two separate categories and have always been treated as such, even with a different set of rules.
Adding to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s case is also the fact that Kiss the Future had its qualifying run for a nomination in February of 2024, which was before the Academy updated and published its rule changes.
In their appeal, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Sarah Anthony had argued the wide release of Kiss the Future included the qualifying markets of Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, playing in nearly 140 AMC theaters.
But as the film only played twice per day on screens in the same theater in the qualifying markets, the Academy ruled it ineligible. The filmmakers had countered this point by stating there was nothing in the Academy’s rules stipulating a film must be shown three times a day on the same screen in a qualifying market.
And Kiss the Future certainly played more than three times per day collectively in each city of its release.
Interesting Perspective?
The experience has given Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s director, Cicin-Sain, an interesting perspective on the process.
He joked that he’s considering making a documentary on what he calls the “whack-a-mole” game the Academy has put forth will all of its rule changes. Bt noted that a “it’s probably more of a comedy, which really is more financially lucrative.”
Ben Affleck And Matt Damon
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon first appeared on screen together as uncredited extras in the 1989 Kevin Costner film Field of Dreams.
Their appearances in School Ties (1992), Glory Days (1995), and Chasing Amy (1997) predicated their screenwriting success for Good Will Hunting, which won the pair an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1998.
Sources: Deadline
