Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's 'Kiss the Future' Disqualified from Oscars 2025

The documentary failed to meet specific theatrical release criteria, leading to a denied appeal by the Academy.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ruled 'Kiss the Future' ineligible for the Oscars due to not meeting the required number of daily screenings in qualifying markets.
Produced by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Sarah Anthony, the documentary was released in 139 AMC cinemas, including key markets like Los Angeles and New York.
The filmmakers argued that the film's wide release should qualify it for the Oscars, but the Academy insisted on three daily screenings in a single theater per qualifying city.
'Kiss the Future' premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2023 and won the Audience Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Despite the controversy, the filmmakers received significant support from both the industry and the public.