It wouldn’t be an Academy Award ceremony without some controversy. While Emma Stone’s (“Poor Things”) Best Actress win over Lily Gladstone (“Killers Of The Flower Moon”) caused a lot of drama over social media, one of the biggest blunders—or what some suspected to be one— was around the presentation of The Best Picture award. Al Pacino presented the award to Christopher Nolan’s atomic bomb drama “Oppenheimer.” But many noted Pacino’s awkward reading of the award, seemingly bungled and rushed, not mentioning any of the nominees, and killing the suspension of the moment rather than building to a dramatic finish.

Continue reading Oscars 2024: Al Pacino Blames Producers For Speedy Best Picture Reveal at The Playlist.

The 96th Academy Awards ceremony was held on Sunday, March 10th, in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. And, of course, the “In Memoriam” is always a notable section, known for producing tears but also jeers at all the omissions that seem to occur each year.

Andrea Bocelli and Matteo Bocelli delivered this year’s Oscars In Memoriam performance singing “Time to Say Good-Bye (Con Te Partirò),” perhaps awkwardly more well-known to many these days as the song Will Ferrell and John C.

Continue reading Watch: The Oscars 2024’s ‘In Memoriam’ Segment Says Goodbye To Everyone We Lost But Still Neglected Key Names at The Playlist.

The Academy of Motion Pictures has now made it clear. A one-week qualifying run in Southern California is no longer acceptable. For the first time in decades, the Academy is requiring a movie to play in 10 of the top 50 markets in the United States for at least a week. In theory, this means more Oscar watchers will get to see the contenders on the big screen before the nominations are announced. Maybe.

READ MORE: Did the 2024 Oscars get a Cannes Film Festival boost?

Continue reading Academy Increases Theatrical Release Standards For 2024 Oscars at The Playlist.

After every Oscar season, the brain trust of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences sits down and determines what worked and what didn’t. Considering the drama and frustration (some might use the word “outrage”) over the viral campaign for Best Actress nominee Andrea Riseborough, it was obvious some changes would be in the works. What was more interesting is where The Academy somewhat loosed the reigns when it comes to screenings for the 2024 Oscar season.

Continue reading Academy Sets New Social Media, Screenings Rules For 2024 Oscars at The Playlist.

After a tumultuous reign under David Rubin, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has voted for a new president. The winner of that election is producer Janet Yang. The 66-year-old New York native becomes only the second person of color to hold the position at the Academy (after Cheryl Boone Isaacs) and the fourth woman (after Bette Davis, Fay Kanin, and Isaacs).

Continue reading Janet Yang Elected New Academy President at The Playlist.

After a number of years of over 800 or 900 new members, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took a more conservative approach for 2021. This year’s class featured just 395 new Oscar voters as The Academy aims to keep the overall membership under 10,000 over fears of the institution losing some of its luster, among other concerns. That didn’t mean there were no surprises, however.

READ MORE: Ultimate 2022 Oscars Best Picture Guide

When reviewing the new member list it’s important to remember a number of key qualifiers.

Continue reading Robert Pattinson, Laverne Cox & Janet Jackson Among 395 New Academy Members at The Playlist.

Even though Spike Lee is a diehard Knicks fan and a longtime resident of NYC, the latter of which has been under attack recently due to its strict COVID precautions, the filmmaker is having one hell of a 2020. Not only is his recent Netflix feature, “Da 5 Bloods,” deep in the conversation for awards season but he’s also set to release a new HBO film, “David Byrne’s American Utopia” later this month.

Continue reading Spike Lee Isn’t Sure New Oscars Diversity Standards Will Be Effective: “You Got To Be In The Motherf*cking Room” at The Playlist.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences loves to make noise at the end of the summer. Two years ago, they announced the intent to create a Popular Film category for the Oscars that died in a public and industry backlash. This year, they have announced new inclusion standards for Best Best Picture beginning with the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. And, like many of the AMPAS’ best efforts, they haven’t exactly nailed down all the details beforehand.

Continue reading Oscars Announces Major Diversity Requirements Starting In 2024 at The Playlist.

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a temporary rule allowing films that went to streaming or PVOD before theaters to qualify for the Oscars, there was a sigh of relief among producers and moviegoers alike. It meant films such affected by the coronavirus pandemic such as “Trolls,” “Shirley” and “Hamilton” would be eligible for the 93rd Academy Awards. Well, yes and no.

REVIEW: “Hamilton” is as powerful as ever on Disney Plus

The Academy confirmed to The Playlist that “Hamilton,” which debuted on Disney Plus this past holiday weekend, is not one of those films.

Continue reading Sorry ‘Hamilton’ Fans, No 2021 Oscars For You at The Playlist.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited 819 new members from 68 countries as the ranks of Hollywood’s top club swell to close to well over 9,300. The good news? According to AMPAS, 45% of the 2020 class are women, 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities and 49% international from 68 countries.  This is an impressive result for an organization that announced a goal in 2016 to double the number of women and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities by 2020.

Continue reading Awkwafina, Florence Pugh & Cynthia Erivo Among 819 New Academy Members at The Playlist.

Despite rumors to the contrary, the 93rd Academy Awards have not been canceled, but a delay has been ordered. This afternoon the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors announced the 2021 Oscars will no longer take place on February 28, 2021. Instead, the ceremony will be telecast on ABC on April 25, 2021, almost two months later.

READ MORE: DGA & PGA follow Oscar’s lead in temporary streaming consideration

AMPAS also revealed the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will open on April 30, 2021.

Continue reading Oscars Move To April 25, 2021 Due To Coronavirus Concerns at The Playlist.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the results of the latest Board of Governors election and six members were elected for the first time. A notable name among the group? Ava DuVernay.

READ MORE: Ava DuVernay talks about her traumatizing experiences with police aggression

The Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind “13th” and “Selma” will represent the Directors Branch along with two other governors previously elected.

Continue reading Ava DuVernay Elected To Academy’s Board Of Governors at The Playlist.

Half a decade ago, after the death of Eric Garner, the cast and crew of Ava DuVernay’s film, “Selma,” wore “I Can’t Breathe” shirts to show their support for the murdered Black man. The film would go on to earn a ton of acclaim from critics and enter into awards season as a favorite to receive a number of Oscar nominations. Unfortunately, the film only received two nominations, with lead actor David Oyelowo getting snubbed for his portrayal of Dr.

Continue reading ‘Selma’ Cast/Crew Accused Of “Stirring Sh*t” By Academy Members After Wearing “I Can’t Breathe” Shirts in 2014 at The Playlist.

Six weeks ago the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced they were “evaluating all aspects” of a future Oscars season in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. After today’s meeting of the Academy’s Board of Governors, we now have a better idea of what that will entail. And for streamers is a big deal, but just for 2020.

READ MORE: New Oscar Rules 2020: Anything is possible after “Parasite” win

AMPAS notes: “Until further notice, and for the 93rd Awards year only, films that had a previously planned theatrical release but are initially made available on a commercial streaming or VOD service may qualify in the Best Picture, general entry and specialty categories for the 93rd Academy Awards under these provisions:

1. The film must be made available on the secure Academy Screening Room member-only streaming site within 60 days of the film’s streaming or VOD release;
2. The film must meet all other eligibility requirements

And of course, the big asterisk moving forward is the following: “On a date to be determined by the Academy, and when theaters reopen in accordance with federal, state and local specified guidelines and criteria, this rules exemption will no longer apply.

Continue reading Academy Announces Streamed Films Eligible For 2020 Oscars Only at The Playlist.

Hello, sunshine! (It’s actually raining here, but whatever, I’m talking about the weather system of my soul.) Welcome to the first day of the rest of our “PARASITE” WON BEST PICTURE lives, brought to you by, of all people, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Before the fizz goes flat in the champagne flute of our hearts (and if I occasionally lapse into a [Fuck, yeah!] mid-sentence, I apologize, it’s just that I’ve suddenly remembered what I’m writing about) and something happens to remind us that the world is still broken and awful, let’s take a look at how and why this joyous, historic, unprecedented, impossible #daretodream triumph came to pass. 

You can follow our full coverage of the 2020 Oscars here.

Continue reading How The F*ck Did ‘Parasite’ Win Best Picture When We’re So Used To Losing? at The Playlist.

Filmmaker Roman Polanski has a long, controversial history, dating back to his decades-old conviction of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and his decision to flee the country instead of serving his sentence. But his past was recently brought back into the light thanks to the #MeToo movement, which has reminded the world of Polanski’s transgressions. And due to this increased visibility, Polanski has seen his credibility in Hollywood evaporate, with the final nail in the coffin being his expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Continue reading The Academy Claims Roman Polanski Was Given A “Fair And Reasonable” Chance To Challenge His Expulsion at The Playlist.

In a move no one saw coming, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the 2021 and 2021 Academy Awards will return to their “traditional” end of February dates. This after an earlier date for next year, February 9, was trumpeted last September as a way to end what was seen as a trend in lower Oscar telecast ratings because of awards season fatigue.  That decision seems to have been bizarrely short lived.

Continue reading Academy Pushes 2021 & 2022 Telecast Dates Back To End Of February Because Why Not? at The Playlist.

Just about a year ago, filmmaker Roman Polanski was formally kicked out of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The reason for his dismissal stemmed from the decades-old court case that involved the rape of an underage girl, for which Polanski is currently avoiding jail time by not coming back to the United States. At the time, there was a large contingent of people that supported the Academy’s decision, as it coincided with the expulsion of Bill Cosby.

Continue reading Roman Polanski Files Lawsuit Against The Academy After His 2018 Expulsion & Demands To Be Reinstated at The Playlist.

Nominations for the 91st Academy Awards were announced this morning, by Kumail Nanjiani and Tracee Ellis Ross in a two-part live presentation. And as with any year, there’s a lot to talk about. Leading the way with 10 total nominations is the Netflix film “Roma,” from director Alfonso Cuaron. Expected to do well with Academy members, “Roma” surprised with even a nom in the Supporting Actress category.

Continue reading Oscars 2019: ‘Roma’ & ‘The Favourite’ Lead With 10 Nominations, ‘A Star Is Born’ & ‘Vice’ Closely Behind [Full List] at The Playlist.

In what has turned into a never-ending drama that might shed more light at the internal issues at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts more than anything else, Kevin Hart has now clarified he will not return to host the 91st Academy Awards.  According to Deadline, Hart has let AMPAS know he feels his return would be a distraction to the telecast and the show will now move on using multiple presenters instead.  

Continue reading Kevin Hart Will Not Return To Officially Host-less Oscars Telecast at The Playlist.

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced plans for a new Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film category for their Oscars telecast, film fans cried foul. There were immediate, and mostly harsh, reactions that followed, dubbing the move as the dilution of the Academy Awards and saying the new category was a glorified popularity contest. Suffice to say, people weren’t pleased. Well, people other than Mark Wahlberg.

So, with the news yesterday that the Academy was backtracking on its new category to allow for further discussion, film fans saw it as a win.

Continue reading Oscars’ Popular Film Award Was “Adamantly Opposed” By Laura Dern & Steven Spielberg During Board Discussions at The Playlist.

The Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences convened on Tuesday night to determine who will lead them for the forthcoming year and, to no one’s surprise, John Bailey was re-elected as President.  The longtime cinematographer will now enter his second term after replacing Cheryl Boone Isaacs who was termed out last year.  This comes after Bailey was investigated and cleared of sexual harassment claims in March.

Continue reading John Bailey Earns Second Term As President Of The Academy at The Playlist.

As you probably already know, filmmaker Roman Polanski has joined an elite crew of expelled members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Joining the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, Polanski was recently kicked out of the Academy stemming from a decades-old rape court case, which led to the director fleeing from the country. And in an odd twist of fate, when the Academy announced their massive new class of Academy members, someone very dear to Polanski was on the list.

Continue reading Roman Polanski’s Wife Refuses Academy Membership Due To “Insufferable Hypocrisy” at The Playlist.

After dozens of accusations of alleged sexual assault, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted to expel Harvey Weinstein from their membership last October. At the time, it was seen as a victory for the rising #MeToo movement and was lauded by many in Hollywood. However, not much was known about what happened behind the scenes during that vote, until now.

In a Q&A after a screening of the “Half the Picture,” which is a documentary about the struggle that female directors have in Hollywood, filmmaker Kimberly Peirce spoke about Weinstein, and in particular, his dismissal from the AMPAS.

Continue reading Kimberly Peirce Says She Was “One Of The Dominant Voices” To Expel Harvey Weinstein From The Academy at The Playlist.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made history today inviting a record 928 new members as it aims to expedite its long-term goal of a more diverse membership overall.

According to the AMPAS 49% of the new members are women, 38% are People of Color and they represent 59 different countries. These efforts are making an impact. In 2015 just 8% of the members were POC. That percentage has jumped to 16% in 2018.

Continue reading Tiffany Haddish, Timothee Chalamet Among Massive 928 New Academy Class at The Playlist.