The Academy Awards: Understanding the Oscars
It’s the most celebrated film awards show in the world and the night everyone’s anxiously waiting to find out who won the highly coveted award. The Academy Awards, or more commonly known as the ‘Oscars’, has granted film awards in 24 categories since 1929. Understanding the Oscars is an important part of staying up to date with films and the ever-evolving film industry. To help clear up any confusion, let’s review the Oscar categories and what they represent.
History of the Academy Awards
The Academy Awards were first held in 1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. This first ceremony was only 15 minutes long and only 15 awards were presented. Since then, the Oscars have become a yearly tradition, with the 93rd Academy Awards being held in 2021.
What Categories are Represented at the Academy Awards?
The 24 Oscar categories represent the many different departments and skill sets of films and can be broken down into three main sections.
Achievements in Filmmaking
These 8 categories are focused on technical achievements and the performance of the film overall.
• Picture: The highest honor of the night. Awards the overall filmmaking achievement and all the contributions of the film crew.
Achievements in Directing
• Directing: Acknowledges the director’s overall storytelling and creative control of the film.
Achievements in Performances/Acting
• Acting: Recognizes actor’s performances within the film.
• Writing: Honors the best original or adapted screenplay.
• Documentary Feature: Celebrates particularly remarkable documentaries produced in the past year.
Achievements in Technical/Creative Aspects
These 8 categories are more focused on specific departments and individuals within the filmmaking process
• Cinematography: Honors the best-captured shots and visual style of the film.
• Editing: Recognizes how well the combined footage was manipulated and moved to create the most impactful story and visuals.
• Music: Music submissions can be in form of original music compositions or use of existing music.
• Production Design: Acknowledges the production designer and set decorator for their contribution to the overall look of the film.
• Makeup and Hairstyling: Rewards the artists for their technical and artistic skills in creating the perfect look for their characters.
• Costume Design: Celebrates the costume designer’s ability to transport the audience to the period and bring a true sense of the character.
• Visual Effects: Honors the artists that worked on the visual effects of the film, such as computer generated imagery (CGI).
• Short Film/Animated Feature: Acknowledges the year’s best films shorter than 40 minutes in length and films specifically created with animation.
Achievements in Sound
These 8 categories recognize the talented individuals who work with sound to contribute to a film’s impact.
• Foreign Language Film: Recognizes the best foreign language film
• Animated Short Film: Celebrates the best films that are under 40 minutes long and created with animation.
• Sound Editing: Acknowledges the individuals who work with sound to create a scene’s soundscape and effects.
• Sound Mixing: Rewards the individuals who carefully mix and manipulate the sounds of the different components of the film together.
• Live Action Short Film: Honors films that are shorter than 40 minutes in length and non animated.
• Original Score: Celebrates the composer’s work to develop a musical track that fits the tone of the story.
• Original Song: Recognizes the highest quality song written specifically for the film.
The Academy Awards have always been a highly anticipated event. Understanding the 24 Oscar categories can help you stay up to date with films and the industry. The categories are structured to represent different departments and skill sets of filmmaking and are divided into three main sections: Achievements in Filmmaking, Achievements in Technical/Creative Aspects, and Achievements in Sound. With 24 categories, the Oscars are sure to recognize every aspect of what makes a movie amazing.
