The Oscars are not only the most significant awards in the film industry but also serve as the highest recognition an artist can achieve in their career. Therefore, being chosen as a winner is no simple matter.
The process takes its time, and despite it used to be in-person, Academy members can now vote for their favorites from the comfort of their homes. In previous editions, there have been multiple errors and polemics.
In 2015 and 2016, controversy arose due to the lack of nominations for actors and filmmakers of color in major categories, leading to the emergence of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. Here, check out how the winners are selected…
Understanding Oscars Voting: How Winners Are Chosen
The winners of the Oscars are chosen in a traditional manner, through a voting process (now online) involving the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, whose list is quite extensive.
Jane Fonda holds the Best Picture envelope backstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on February 09, 2020. (Source: Matt Petit – Handout/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images)
The Academy has made several changes to the voting rules to address criticisms and adapt to the evolution of the industry in recent years. These changes have sometimes sparked debate and disagreement within the community but have not been reverted.
The artists and stars comprising the group make their choices anonymously, so the results remain confidential until the ceremony, where the presenters unveil them. The process consists of multiple steps, and here is a more detailed breakdown of the voting process up to the present:
- Members of the Academy: The Academy is composed of over 9,000 members representing various branches of the film industry, including actors, directors, writers, producers, and other professionals.
- Nominations: Each member votes for nominations in their specific area of expertise. For example, directors nominate directors, actors nominate actors, and so forth. All members can vote for categories like Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film.
Luis Gerardo Méndez voting for the 96th Annual Academy Awards. (Source: @luisgerardom)
- First Round of Voting (Nominations): During this phase, members of each branch nominate candidates in their respective categories. This results in the list of nominees announced at a special event before the Oscars ceremony.
- Second Round of Voting (Winners): All members can vote to determine the winners in each category. Each member selects their favorites within each category, including major ones like “Best Picture.”
- Vote Counting: An accounting firm conducts the vote count to ensure accuracy and confidentiality.
- Announcement of Winners: Finally, the winners are announced during the Oscars ceremony. The voting results are revealed during the live event, usually by prominent presenters.
