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Yes, Maps to the Stars Will Get an Oscar-Qualifying Run

’Maps to the Stars.’ Photo: TIFF

David Cronenberg’s Hollywood satire Maps to the Stars picked up a Best Actress award in Cannes for Julianne Moore’s go-for-broke performance as a fading movie star, but its awards-season prospects appeared dimmer Stateside when distributor Focus World announced plans to eschew an Oscar campaign this year in favor of an early 2015 release. When we talked to David Cronenberg Saturday night at the New York Film Festival, though, he told us to expect a short theatrical run for the film by the end of the year. “They’re going to do a qualifying run — I think it’s in New York and L.A. — so that it will legitimately qualify for the Golden Globes and the Oscars,” said Cronenberg, who admitted, “There was a lot of discussion. You know, they really felt that they could do a better job releasing the film in 2015, in January or February. And then, of course, the discussion was, ‘Yeah, but wouldn’t it be great if Julianne got an Oscar nomination, since she won Best Actress at Cannes?’” A strong recent showing at the Toronto Film Festival convinced Focus World to put the film out this year, though the distributor hasn’t committed to funding a costly Oscar campaign. “You know, I think the movie will find its way regardless,” said Maps screenwriter Bruce Wagner. “It already has.”

Maps to the Stars to Get Oscar-Qualifying Run