The Oscars’ diversity rules explained: what does a film have to do to be nominated?

Expectation in Los Angeles is skyhigh ahead of the 2024 Oscars Award Ceremony with the Christopher Nolan produced Oppenheimer tipped to secure a considerable haul of statuettes with the epic three hour blockbuster nominated for 13 awards including: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role, and both Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role.

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Everything you need to know about the 2024 Oscars

As we’ve seen in the past, having multiple nominations doesn’t always mean that a film will be guaranteed to take home an Oscar. Such was the case of both ‘The Turning Point’ (1977) and ‘The Color Purple’ (1986) which picked up 11 Academy Award nominations each without winning a single one. They both faced stiff competition and the 96th Academy Awards will be no different.

2024 Awards meet diversity requirements

Following the fallout and negative press from the 2015 ceremony when the Oscars announced a set of 20 all-white acting nominees, questions were asked about the Academy having a diversity problem.

As a consequence, new diversity requirements have been employed in the nomination process for the 2024 Awards and these not only relate to the actors but also impact the production houses hire the actors and backline staff in the first place.

These guidelines act as an initiative that should encourage studios to enact more equitable hiring practices and broaden the range of stories that are told.

To meet the onscreen representation standard, at least one of the lead actors or a significant supporting actor must be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, whether that means Asian, Hispanic, Black, Indigenous, Native American, Middle Eastern, North African, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

There are alternatives: Thirty percent of all actors in secondary or more minor roles could come from two of the following categories: women, L.G.B.T.Q., an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, or those with cognitive or physical disabilities. Or the main story line must focus on an underrepresented group.

In order to qualify for a shortlist place in the categories, a film must meet two of four standards in areas of onscreen representation, offscreen creative leadership, apprenticeship opportunities for members of underrepresented groups and diversity in the ranks of the marketing and distribution departments.