The four months following the end of August and summer movie season is often when you'll find some of the best films of the year. Studios yearning for the attention of award shows, primarily the Academy Awards, are often attempting to promote their best films, leading to an intense period of predictions and marketing. Though this award season does have its consequences, it ultimately has a positive effect on the film industry.
The attention that award season draws to smaller films out of non-major distributors is a positive factor. Movies like last year's Whiplash, Birdman, The Theory of Everything, Foxcatcher and Nightcrawler, which normally would not draw attention from casual moviegoers, gain a bigger audience due to the buzz they draw.
While these films are sometimes called "Oscar bait" for their obvious attempt to be recognized for awards, many of them wouldn't gain traction without the attention of award season. Last year's The Imitation Game and American Sniper are two great examples of Best Picture-nominated films that got major box office returns due to the award buzz, eventually became two of the biggest hits of the year.
The greater competition between studios is also a positive effect of award season. While studios have always (and will always) compete over box office results, the idea that a movie will be recognized as one of the best of the year is very exciting for studios, and the competition can cause them to rise to a higher level and produce the best films.
Some quality films can definitely be left out of the race, but even they are part of the conversation during this award period. Even films like last year's Nightcrawler and Gone Girl, which failed to receive nominations for Best Picture and other major categories, got an award season boost due to the buzz surrounding them.
In the last few years, the Academy Awards and other award shows have received a fair amount of criticism for being out of touch and leaving out some great films. I would say that much of this criticism is fair, and the Oscars generally gravitate towards dramas, indies and period pieces over blockbusters, comedies and experimental films, and have sometimes made odd or unorthodox choices in what has or has not been nominated.
Despite these issues, the benefits outweigh the costs. Film, like any other art, is subjective, and the opinions of the Academy Awards voting members will naturally not be completely in line with internet culture. Though it's still very much a selective process, more mainstream and unusual films like District 9, Toy Story 3, Tree of Life, Gravity and American Sniper have been accepted, and there's potential for the spectrum of nominated films to be more diverse and varied.
Though not a perfect system, the effect of the Academy Awards and other award shows has been a positive one on the entertainment world. Competitions that drive studios and filmmakers and studios to rise to a higher level remains a benefit for film fans who are able to immerse themselves in some of the best films of the year.
