Inside the Golden Globe Awards
Where this writer tells the story of how he was invited to the "biggest party in Hollywood."
It’s that time of year again. If you google “Awards Season” — and manage to avoid the Bon Iver song with the same title — you’ll come across the stretch from November to February when most of the major film and television awards are handed out.
It starts with the Governors Awards and the independent Gotham Awards in November, followed by the People’s Choice Awards and the Hollywood Film Awards. As the year creeps toward its end, the status and prestige of the ceremonies only grow. It all builds to a climax in late February and March, with the mighty Academy Awards — aka the Oscars — as the grand finale.
One of the biggest awards each year is also one of the most controversial, depending on who you ask. It’s the Golden Globe Awards, aka “the biggest party in Hollywood.” And, again, depending on who you ask, it’s second only to the Oscars in terms of prestige. The Golden Globe Awards — or “the Globes” to friends — takes place at the start of the year.
The Golden Globes stand apart from other major awards in several key ways. It’s — as far as I know — the only major awards ceremony that celebrates both film and television in one event. The voters — around 300 media journalists from around the world — can choose to vote in either film categories, television categories, or both. It’s also the only major awards show to recognize comedy in film and television in its own categories.
This is the story of how I became a voter in the Golden Globe Awards and what my experience has been like so far.
The Dream of Hollywood
The pandemic was in full swing. Despite that, I found myself in the spa city of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, invited to cover the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The year before, I’d been there as a jury member for the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), of which I’m a member.
This second visit was a bit different. In the middle of the festival, I came down with COVID. Isolated in a cramped hotel room with only my own thoughts for company, I grew restless. Then, an email arrived from FIPRESCI. The subject? The Golden Globes. More specifically, an invitation to apply as a new voter.
At the time, the Globes were owned and operated by the infamous Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) — or, as one particularly angry, LA-based Norwegian film journalist liked to call them, “the Hollywood Mafia” and other unflattering names. She’d spent years lobbing criticism at the organization. There’s plenty of drama wrapped up in all of that, but I’m not about to spend half this article unpacking it. I’ll leave that to people like Craig Greiwe, who wrote a thorough LinkedIn article about it back when everything was unfolding.
Instead, I focused on the email in front of me. Pushing aside my imposter syndrome for just a moment, I replied that I would absolutely be interested in becoming a voter for the Golden Globe Awards. "What’s the worst that could happen?" I asked myself. As a lifelong film enthusiast stuck in Norway, I’d dreamed of Hollywood since childhood. Sure, some of those dreams had mellowed with age, but they’d never fully disappeared. And this — perhaps fueled by a moment of childish enthusiasm — felt like an opportunity to be part of something bigger.
So, I applied. I filled out the forms, submitted samples of my journalistic work, and did everything they asked. Then I promptly forgot about it. I mean, come on — I’m me. Why would I be chosen to vote in what is (yes, yes, depending on who you ask) the second most prestigious award ceremony after the Oscars? What was the worst that could happen, anyway? It’s not like anyone would be mad at me for trying… right? Right??
A couple of months went by, and I’d almost forgotten about my application. But then it happened. It actually happened. I received an email that began like this:
Dear Eirik,
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Golden Globe voter.
Your application was considered by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Credential Committee, which examined the journalistic work you provided.
Their recommendation were forwarded to the HFPA’s Board of Directors for final approval, and I am plaeased to inform you that you’ve been accepted as a part of our inaugural calss of new voters for the upcoming 80th Golden Globe Awards. Congratulations!
The email went on to list my next steps. I had to provide personal information, a bio, and a photo for my Golden Globes profile page. There were also rules to follow, including a Code of Conduct, a Gift Policy, Social Media Guidelines, and Conflict of Interest rules.
It was official. I was going to be a Golden Globe voter. And with that, the doors to Hollywood creaked open — not wide, but just enough to slip a foot inside.
Disbelief and joy hit me at once. I was one of the first 100 or so people chosen to expand the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s 97-member voting body for the Golden Globes. It felt surreal, but I knew one thing for certain: I had to share it.
Celebration and Criticism
And share it, I did. The congratulations poured in from friends on Facebook—many of whom knew how much film meant to me and how, unlike some of my fellow Norwegian film critics and journalists, I had always embraced the Hollywood side of the industry. It felt like a moment of validation, a sign that maybe, just maybe, I was on the right path.
But not everyone was thrilled. Amid the flood of kind words, there were two or three voices that stood out—not to celebrate, but to criticize. They were angry. Apparently, the drama surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association had crossed the Atlantic. In hindsight, it wasn’t that surprising. After all, one of the most vocal critics of the HFPA was the beforementioned Norwegian film journalist based in LA, someone many critics here in Norway had personal ties to.
Their comments weren’t just criticisms of the HFPA; they were attacks on me. Words like "opportunistic," "egotistical," and "unethical" were tossed my way, along with a range of personal jabs that cut deeper than I'd expected. The Norwegian journalist even reached out to me directly, messaging to ask, "Why would you associate yourself with an organization I’ve worked so hard to destroy?”
I wasn’t the only Norwegian film critic invited to vote in the Golden Globes that year. Interestingly, when I asked my two other Norwegian journalist colleagues who had been invited, they said they hadn’t faced any criticism. They had also shared their new status as Golden Globe voters, but for some reason, the criticism was aimed at me alone.
We can all agree to disagree, but personal insults? That, I won’t stand for. The two or three journalists who flung insults my way? Muted and blocked. I wanted to enjoy this moment and focus on what really mattered: getting to work as a voter in the Golden Globe Awards.
Going Forward
Time passed, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association continued its path of reform, expanding its voter body with an additional 100 voters from around the world, bringing the total to roughly 330. The HFPA itself was disbanded, and the Golden Globes now operates under the Golden Globe Foundation. But I won’t bog you down with the finer details of that transition.
As I write this, I’m in the middle of the nomination process for the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, marking my third year as a voter. My first year, I limited myself to voting in the television categories, but last year, I decided to go all in and voted for both film and television. It was a lot of work, but absolutely worth it — so I’m doing the same this year.
Being a Golden Globe voter has a way of reshaping your role as a journalist. I know some voters who put it off until awards season officially kicks off, but then they’re stuck watching films and TV shows nearly 24/7 just to catch up. For my part, I start as early as possible — right at the beginning of the year — keeping a watchlist of everything I believe could be relevant for the Globes. It’s not foolproof, but it makes the chaos a little more manageable.
A Year in the Life of a Golden Globe Voter
So how does this all work? Well, let’s take a look into the future and reflect on how next year will likely unfold.
In January or February, I’ll receive an email asking if I’m interested in being a voter for the upcoming year and whether I’d like to vote for movies, television, or both. I’ll likely respond enthusiastically that I’m in for both. After that, I’ll send in my application — a formality at this stage. This process ensures that no one is automatically enrolled as a voter for the new year.
Even before I receive the official confirmation, I’ll start mapping out every notable title set for release in 2025. I’ll most likely put together a spreadsheet for this, which might make me look a bit obsessive, but trust me, it’s a worthwhile effort.
Then, as winter shifts into spring, distributors begin sending press releases, premiere updates, trailers, and invitations to watch screeners on the Golden Globes FYC Screeners website. It starts as a trickle but steadily builds into a full-blown flood by October.
The screener site, first introduced in 2024, makes the process far more efficient. I can log in, select a film or TV series, and stream it directly to my home theater using my Fire TV stick — a welcome upgrade from the days of juggling individual screener links from multiple distributors.
That said, there’s still something special about physical media. During awards season, distributors often send Blu-ray discs, soundtracks on vinyl, screenplays, and even books filled with concept art — like the stunning art book that accompanied Transformers One this year. As a collector of all things film-related, these are very welcome.
Then, in late October, the press conferences begin. And there are... so many. This year, there were weeks in November where I attended two or three press conferences every evening (thanks to the CET time zone), and I still had to skip some because they overlapped with others.
These press conferences come in different forms. Some are traditional moderated sessions with actors and filmmakers in LA or London, with journalists both physically present and tuning in via Zoom from around the world. Others are more intimate roundtable interviews or smaller Zoom calls where filmmakers, actors, producers, or composers discuss their latest projects. These sessions are a goldmine for articles, like my piece with Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Shawn Levy talking about Deadpool & Wolverine, or my deep dive with the cast and creators of Dune: Prophecy.
Learning to Vote
I’m often asked how the voting actually works, and while the intricate details are part of the Golden Globes’ internal process and thus confidential, to quote a certain wizard, let me risk a little more light.
Throughout the year, producers and distributors can submit their work for consideration. While I’m not directly involved in this step—I’m neither a distributor nor a producer (though I sometimes wish I were, but that’s a story for another time)—I occasionally point people in the right direction. For those curious, the Golden Globe Awards website outlines eligibility and submission requirements. Yes, submissions are open to everyone, though, as of now, there is no category for documentary films.
Once submitted and approved, eligible productions are made available to voters through a centralized platform introduced in 2023. This site collects all the titles for viewing, allowing us to prepare for the nomination process. It’s certainly easier to space screenings out over the year, as trying to cram too many titles into the final months and weeks, can be a little daunting.
The voting itself is conducted digitally through a secure and efficient system. Voters rank their choices in each category, with safeguards in place to ensure accuracy and fairness. The process, which once involved physical ballots, has fully embraced digital technology, reflecting the Golden Globes’ commitment to evolving not just in technology but also in its diverse voter body.
From the nominations announcement to the awards show, the timeline for voting and screenings is carefully coordinated, though specific dates shift from year to year. As voters, our responsibility is to watch, reflect, and cast our ballots thoughtfully. By the time the awards are presented, every decision have been made with care, resulting in a celebration of the year’s best stories and performances.
Why I Vote
And that’s how it goes. As a voter in the Golden Globe Awards, I have access to film and television titles, often well before they hit cinemas or streaming services. Along with that access comes responsibility—I’m bound by strict rules on conduct, conflicts of interest, and accepting gifts from people in the film and television industry.
But as a film and TV enthusiast, being a Golden Globe voter is a joy. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but when the work overlaps with your passion, it hardly feels like a burden. And while it hasn’t exactly opened the path to Hollywood I dreamed of as a kid (yet!), it’s brought me face-to-digital-face with some of the people in this industry I admire the most.
So yes, I’ll keep voting for as long as they let me.