Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Golden Globes changes comedy award rules to stop films like The Martian winning again

'Dramas with comedic overtones should be entered as dramas.'

Christopher Hooton
Tuesday 19 April 2016 11:29 EDT
Comments
(Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

In the wake of The Martian winning the Golden Globe Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy despite having approximately two (semi) comedic moments, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has issued an 11-page set of revamped rules for award categories in time for the 2017 ceremony.

Judd Apatow most famously called out The Martian’s win this year, saying those kind of award-straddling films “pick whatever category” they want to be in.

“I got Matt Damon staring at me right now, after that whole ‘Golden Globe comedy’ thing,” he said on stage at the Critics’ Choice Awards. “We only have one award Matt, that’s all we get. I’m like a nerd on the schoolyard and you stole my milk money.”

The clause most pertinent to this in the HFPA’s new guidelines stipulates that ‘dramas with comedic overtones should be entered as dramas’, not comedies.

Other changes mean that actors can not be nominated for cameo appearances playing themselves and films that are less than 75 percent animation are not Animated Feature Films - you can read the full 11-page document here.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in