Academy Award

Annual American awards for cinematic achievements

Academy Awards

The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry. They are regarded as the most famous and prestigious awards in the entertainment industry worldwide. The awards are an international recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

History

The first Academy Awards presentation was held on May 16, 1929, at a private dinner function at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with an audience of about 270 people. The post-awards party was held at the Mayfair Hotel. The cost of guest tickets for that night's ceremony was $5 ($75 in 2020 dollars). Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors, and other participants in the filmmaking industry of the time, for their works during the 1927–28 period. The ceremony ran for 15 minutes.

Categories

The Academy Awards currently have 24 categories, including:

• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Supporting Actor
• Best Supporting Actress
• Best Original Screenplay
• Best Adapted Screenplay
• Best Animated Feature
• Best International Feature Film
• Best Documentary Feature
• Best Documentary (Short Subject)
• Best Live Action Short Film
• Best Animated Short Film
• Best Original Score
• Best Original Song
• Best Sound
• Best Production Design
• Best Cinematography
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling
• Best Costume Design
• Best Film Editing
• Best Visual Effects

Statuette

The best-known award is the Academy Award of Merit, more popularly known as the Oscar statuette. Made of gold-plated bronze on a black metal base, it is 13.5 inches (34 cm) tall, weighs 8.5 pounds (3.856 kg), and depicts a knight rendered in Art Deco style holding a crusader's sword standing on a reel of film with five spokes. The five spokes represent the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians.

Ceremony

The major awards are presented at a live televised ceremony, most commonly in late February or early March following the relevant calendar year, and six weeks after the announcement of the nominees. It is the oldest worldwide entertainment awards ceremony and is now seen live in more than 200 countries. The Academy Awards ceremony is also the oldest worldwide entertainment awards ceremony.

Venues

The Academy Awards have been held at various venues since its inception, including:

• Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
• Biltmore Hotel
• Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)
• Grauman's Chinese Theatre
• Pantages Theatre (Hollywood)
• Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
• Shrine Auditorium
• Dolby Theatre

Notable Records

• Katharine Hepburn holds the record for the most Academy Awards for acting, with four Oscars.
• Walt Disney holds the record for the most Academy Awards won by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations.

Controversies

The Academy Awards have not been without controversy. Issues such as lack of diversity, gender bias, and the exclusion of certain films and performances have been points of contention over the years.

See also

• List of Academy Award ceremonies
• List of actors with Academy Award nominations
• List of films with the most Academy Awards
• List of people who have won multiple Academy Awards in a single year
• List of posthumous Academy Award winners and nominees