The organization behind the presentation of the Oscars has announced changes on Friday to realize more diversity around the presentation of the film awards. The measures will take effect after the next Oscar ceremony, which is scheduled for February 28, 2021.
From 2022, the Oscars judges will be able to view submissions throughout the year, providing equal opportunity for all films. Also, there will always be ten nominees in the best film category, instead of an annually changing number.
The organization behind the film awards also plans to set new requirements for the nomination process in order to achieve more diversity in the nominations for the film awards.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences promises a series of initiatives for more diversity and inclusivity, under the name Academy Aperture 2025. According to the organization, this is a response to the criticism that the organization received of the film awards under the name #OscarsSoWhite.
“Although we have taken steps, there is still much work to be done,” said Academy Director Dawn Hudson. “There is an urgent need to address these issues.”
We are excited to announce the next phase of our equity and inclusion initiative. In our efforts to increase representation, we are working to create new industry standards, add new voices to our Board of Governors and expand the Best Picture category. https://t.co/HSIfHtXPVh
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) June 12, 2020
In January 2015, April Reign introduced the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. The then lawyer saw her call for more diversity around the Oscars grow into a protest movement that denounced the lack of diversity at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In 2016, the organization behind the Oscars appointed three board members with a non-white or non-American background. In February, the South Korean film Parasite was the first non-English speaking winner in the best film category.