Academy Award

Academy Award
Name	Academy Award
Awarded for	Excellence in cinematic achievements
Country	United States
Presenter	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Year	1929
Website	oscars.org

Academy Award. The Academy Award is a prestigious set of accolades presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize artistic and technical merit in the American film industry. Commonly known by its nickname "Oscar," the award is internationally recognized as a symbol of cinematic excellence. The first ceremony was held in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, honoring films released in 1927 and 1928.

History

The awards were conceived by Louis B. Mayer, co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to help mediate labor disputes and improve the industry's image. The first ceremony was a private dinner for about 270 guests, with winners announced to the public three months prior. The iconic statuette was designed by Cedric Gibbons and sculpted by George Stanley. The term "Oscar" was popularized in the 1930s, with its origins often attributed to Margaret Herrick, the Academy's librarian. Major historical milestones include the first televised ceremony in 1953 on NBC, the creation of the Best International Feature Film category in 1956, and the expansion of the Best Picture nomination field in 2009.

Award categories

The awards are presented in numerous categories, which have evolved significantly since the inaugural ceremony. The major "above-the-line" awards include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Key craft and technical categories encompass Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Production Design. Specialized branches of the Academy vote on awards for achievements in areas like Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The Best Animated Feature category was introduced in 2001, while the Best Documentary Feature award has been presented since the 1940s.

Nomination and voting process

The nomination process is conducted by the Academy's membership, which is divided into branches such as Actors, Directors, and Writers. Members nominate only within their respective branches, with all members eligible to nominate for Best Picture. Final voting for winners is open to all active members across every category. The ballots are tabulated by the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, a role it has held since 1934. The preferential voting system is used for Best Picture, while most other categories employ a plurality voting system. Membership has grown from the original 36 founders to over 10,000 industry professionals as of the 21st century.

Ceremony

The ceremony is a major televised event, traditionally held in Los Angeles at venues like the Dolby Theatre or the Hollywood and Highland Center. Broadcast historically on networks including ABC and NBC, it features musical performances, comedic monologues, and the presentation of awards. Notable hosts have included Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, and Ellen DeGeneres. Memorable moments range from Sacheen Littlefeather's speech on behalf of Marlon Brando in 1973 to the infamous *Moonlight* and La La Land mix-up in 2017. The event is preceded by the red carpet arrival of nominees and celebrities, covered extensively by media like Entertainment Tonight.

Records and statistics

Walt Disney holds the record for most competitive wins by an individual, with 22 awards from 59 nominations. Katharine Hepburn holds the record for most acting wins, with four Best Actress awards. Films like *Ben-Hur*, *Titanic*, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King each won 11 awards. Meryl Streep is the most nominated performer, with 21 nominations across her career. John Ford holds the record for Best Director with four wins. The foreign language film with the most wins is Fanny and Alexander by Ingmar Bergman. The youngest winner in a competitive category is Tatum O'Neal for *Paper Moon*.

Impact and criticism

Winning an award can significantly boost a film's box office revenue and a professional's career, a phenomenon known as the "Oscar bump." The ceremony itself is a major media event, influencing fashion and popular culture globally. Criticisms have historically included a lack of diversity among nominees, leading to movements like #OscarsSoWhite and subsequent reforms by the Academy under presidents like Cheryl Boone Isaacs and David Rubin. Other critiques involve the campaign spending by studios like The Weinstein Company and alleged biases against genres like science fiction and horror. The Academy has also faced scrutiny over its handling of controversies, such as the expulsion of members like Harvey Weinstein and the initial exclusion of popular film categories.

Category:Film awards Category:American awards