Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

Globes Open to 'Passion'; 'Fahrenheit' Is Out

By staff
posted Nov 8, 2004, 23:32

Two of this year's most-talked-about films have hit snags on the road to awards season, specifically in their quest to secure nominations for the Golden Globes. Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" is out of the running, while Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" cannot compete in the best-drama category.

"Fahrenheit" (Lions Gate/IFC/Fellowship Adventure Group) will not be eligible in any Globes categories because it is a documentary. The rules of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., which administers the Globes, state that docus are ineligible for consideration in the top film award categories; there is not a separate documentary category.

"Passion" (Newmarket) cannot compete for best drama because it is considered a foreign-language film. The HFPA considers any feature with a non-English dialogue track to be a foreign film. The organization's rules reserve the best picture awards for movies in English.

"Passion," in which much of the dialogue is spoken in Aramaic, can be considered for best foreign film and under the rules can compete in all other categories.

Nominations for the 62nd annual Golden Globe Awards will be announced Dec. 13, with the winners revealed in a Jan. 16 ceremony to be telecast live on NBC.

Source: Hollywood Reporter