Who are the members of the Academy and how are the Academy Award winners voted for?
There is always plenty of public debate about nominations and potential winners, but ultimately the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decides.
The 96th Academy Awards, the biggest film industry awards ceremony in the United States and indeed anywhere in world, will take place on Sunday 10 March. Hollywood’s brightest stars will descend upon the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles once again as prizes are handed out to the year’s biggest achievers.
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Everything you need to know about the 2024 Oscars
As is the case every year, there has been plenty of speculation with regard to the winners of the numerous different categories, and no little controversy. The AMPAS (Academy of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), for instance, has been widely criticised for not including Barbie director Greta Gerwig or lead actress Margot Robbie in its list of nominees, despite the film receiving multiple nominations elsewhere.
But how exactly does the Academy decide which films, actors, actresses and more are worthy of being nominated, and who picks the nominees?
How are Oscar nominees and winners chosen?
The responsibility lies in the hands of the members of AMPAS, a private institution that brings together the heavyweights of each of the unions that make up the North American film industry.
To become a member of the Academy, you must directly invited. In 2019, The Hollywood Reporter estimated that there were around 9,000 members, although that figure has since risen to 10,500, according to the Academy itself.
When selecting nominees for the different categories, Academy members vote by profession. That means actors pick their favourites actors, composers put forward their best scores, etc.
Each voter makes 10 selections in the appropriate category, with the most popular choices making up the final lists of nominees. Once the nominations have been announced, all Academy members then vote on a winner for each of the categories, regardless of profession.
Best Picture category among the exceptions
There are, however, are few exceptions, including the most important category of all. Voting on the Best Picture award is open to all members of the Academy from the beginning, both when choosing nominated films and the eventual winner.
Meanwhile, the nominees and winners of other categories, such as “Best International Feature Film” and “Best Animated Film,” are selected by a special committee.
The 96th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday 10 March 2024. This year, the ceremony will start an hour earlier than usual, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/ 4:00 p.m. PT and ending at around 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT.
Jimmy Kimmel will host the 2024 Oscars for a fourth time, with wife Molly McNearney returning as executive producer for a second year in a row. Kimmel previously hosted the event in 2017, 2018 and 2023.