Late Tuesday night, the Oscars announced that The Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences will start implementing new diversity criteria that will go into full effect for the 2024 Oscars.
After historical controversy and years of criticism for lacking diversity among its winners and nominees, The Oscars released new diversity standards that films will have to meet in order to be considered for the 2024 best picture. The Oscars new diversity and inclusion requirements fall into four categories: on-screen representation, creative leadership and project team, industry access and opportunities, and audience development. The conditions require that both onscreen and behind the scenes be filled by people from underrepresented groups, including racial minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, women and people with disabilities. For the 96th Oscars, a film must meet TWO out of the FOUR standards to be considered for best picture.
The Academy stated that the requirements are meant to “encourage equitable representation on and off screen in order to better reflect the diversity of the movie-going audience.” However, the new announcement has garnered mixed reactions with some feeling that the new criteria restricts the freedom of artistry while others see this as an opportunity for minority groups in the industry to be recognized.
Actors like Kirstie Alley and James Wood took to twitter to voice their disappointment in the Oscars.
But at the same time, others like film producer Axel Kuschevatzky support the Academy’s decision.
But regardless of the public’s agreement or disagreement with the Oscar’s decision, this announcement is the Academy’s attempt towards a change to make the Oscars more inclusive and to increase diversity within its pool of nominees.
