What does Awards Season mean?
Awards Season refers to the period from approximately October through February when the entertainment industry’s major awards — the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA, and Academy Awards — are presented. During awards season, studios and streaming platforms conduct intensive campaigns to promote their eligible films and performances to awards voters. For performers, awards recognition during this period is one of the most significant career milestones available and can substantially affect future casting and compensation.
Example:The child actor’s performance in the critically acclaimed film was generating significant awards season buzz — her name appearing regularly in critics’ lists, which her agent noted was translating into substantially more interest from major directors and studios.
Example: The studio’s awards season campaign included screenings for Academy members, trade publication advertisements, and a series of press interviews — a coordinated effort to keep the film in voters’ minds during the months between its October release and the February ballot deadline.
Did you know?
The transformation of awards season into a highly strategic marketing exercise was driven by Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax campaigns in the 1990s, most famously for Shakespeare in Love, which beat Saving Private Ryan for the 1999 Best Picture Oscar through an unprecedented voter outreach campaign. This permanently changed how studios think about awards campaigns — investment can now run into tens of millions of dollars for a single film.
You can also find “Awards Season” and related terms in this category: Marketing and Promotion.
