Saturday 4 May 2013

Oscar Opens Up Voting in Foreign Language and Doc Shorts Categories

The Academy Awards Statue and Sign - H 2012

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The rule changes were revealed at an unusual general membership meeting of the Academy held today in Beverly Hills, New York and Emeryville, Ca.

The Academy is instituting new voting rules in two Oscar categories and will allow all of its members to vote in the documentary shorts and foreign language film categories.
In previous years, members had to see the films in a theatrical setting to be eligible to vote in the final round of voting. Under new procedures, the Academy will provide members with DVDs of the nominated films as it now also does in the documentary feature, animated short film and live action short film categories.
As a result, the full membership of the Academy will be able to vote in all 24 Oscar categories in the final balloting.
"This change continues our efforts to expand our members' participation in all aspects of the Academy's activities including, of course, voting for the Oscars," Academy president Hawk Koch explained in a release that accompanied the announcement. "Building on this past season's 90 percent record voter turnout, we want to give our members as many opportunities as possible to see these great films an vote in these categories next year."
The announcement also was made at an unusual general meeting of the Academy that was held today at simultaneous gatherings in Beverly Hills, New York and Emeryville, Calif.
Koch opened the event by quoting Fay Kanin, the former Academy president who died in March, who had said, "We're part of a medium that allows us to be creative, daring ... and once in a while extraordinary." CEO Dawn Hudson greeting the audience by saying, "This meeting is about you, our members. You're the backbone of the Academy."
Hudson outlined such Academy activities as its recent Wayne's World reunion screening, its VFX series and its Charlie Chaplin collection restoration project. Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo spoke about the Academy's international outreach efforts that have seen Academy delegations travel to Iran, East Africa and Vietnam.

The members-only event, which took place at the Academy’s Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills and Pixar Studios in Emeryville and at the Lighthouse International theater in New Work, began with an hour-long brunch/lunch followed by a 90-minute presentation by Academy officials.
Disney/Pixar hosted the Emeryville meet-up, where former Academy president Sid Ganis, directors Brad Bird and Pete Docter and visual effects supervisor Craig Barron were present. In New York, Michael Moore, Melissa Leo and Robert Wuhl were all on hand.
The goal of the meeting, the Academy said in its invitation for the event, was “to present the Academy’s plans and priorities for the future and update you on key initiatives” and “to have you meet and connect with fellow members and Academy leadership.” Academy members were also invited to submit questions in advance of the event “to increase communication with our members.”

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