Latest news with #AMPAS
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Tom Cruise To Receive Honorary Oscar
Washington DC: Hollywood action legend and producer Tom Cruise is set to be felicitated with an honorary Oscar award, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) said on Tuesday. The announcement comes almost a month after the release of his latest film Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, the eighth film in the globe-trotting spy action franchise. Choreographer and actor Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas will also receive Academy Honorary Awards, also known as the Governors' Awards. Music icon and philanthropist Dolly Parton will be recognised with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. All four Oscar statuettes will be presented at the 16th annual Governors Awards, set to take place on November 16, 2025. The ceremony will be held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood, according to the official Oscars website. "This year's Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact," Janet Yang, Academy President, said in a statement shared on the website. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Academy (@theacademy) Janet Yang said the Academy's Board of Governors is honoured to recognise these brilliant artists. "Debbie Allen is a trailblazing choreographer and actor whose work has captivated generations and crossed genres. Tom Cruise's incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunt community has inspired us all. "Beloved performer Dolly Parton exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts. And production designer Wynn Thomas has brought some of the most enduring films to life through a visionary eye and mastery of his craft," she added. Tom Cruise, one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood history, has long been an advocate for theatrical exhibition. Known for performing his own stunts, Cruise has been nominated two times for best actor Oscar for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire. His credits also include Risky Business, A Few Good Men, Interview With the Vampire, Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky, and the long-running Mission: Impossible franchise. As for Debbie Allen, she has choreographed the Academy Awards ceremony seven times, as well as films including Forget Paris, A Jazzman's Blues and The Six Triple Eight. Her production credits include Amistad and A Star for Rose. Debbie Allen made her mark as an actor with Fame, Ragtime, and Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling. Dolly Parton, a globally revered musician and actor, will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades of philanthropic work. With over 100 million records sold and 49 studio albums, Dolly Parton has also starred in classics such as Nine to Five and Steel Magnolias. She is a two-time Oscar nominee for best original song -- for Nine to Five and Travelin' Thru from Transamerica. With this Governors Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, Dolly Parton will be recognised for her decades-long humanitarian efforts. She has founded various charitable and philanthropic organisations, including the Dollywood Foundation, which was created in 1988 to inspire the children of East Tennessee - her home state - to achieve educational success, as per the Academy Awards. Additionally, her literacy programme, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, launched in 1995 in honour of her father, has provided children with 285 million books. As for production designer Wynn Thomas, he began his career working on Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It, which would be the first of several collaborations between the two. They went on to work on Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X and Da 5 Bloods. Other notable credits from his career include the Best Picture-winning movie A Beautiful Mind, as well as Cinderella Man and Hidden Figures, to name a few. The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given "to honour extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences in any discipline, or for outstanding service to the Academy". The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an Oscar statuette named after actor and philanthropist Jean Hersholt, is given "to an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities".
5 days ago
- Entertainment
Dolly Parton, Tom Cruise among stars to receive honorary Oscars
Dolly Parton and Tom Cruise can now add honorary Oscars to their long lists of accolades. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday in a press release that the "9 to 5" singer and "Mission Impossible" star will receive honorary Oscars at the 16th annual Governors Awards, which will take place later this year. Cruise, choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas will receive Academy Honorary Awards at the ceremony. Honorary Awards are given "to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences in any discipline, or for outstanding service to the Academy," according to the press release. Parton is set to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which is given "to an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities," according to the academy. "This year's Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact," AMPAS President Janet Yang said in a statement Tuesday. "The Academy's Board of Governors is honored to recognize these brilliant artists." As for what led to Cruise's recognition, Yang cited his "incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community [that] has inspired us all." Yang said Parton "exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts." Allen is being recognized for her long career as "a trailblazing choreographer and actor, whose work has captivated generations and crossed genres," Yang said. Thomas, she added, "has brought some of the most enduring films to life through a visionary eye and mastery of his craft." Cruise has been previously nominated for three acting Oscars and also earned a best picture nod as a producer on 2022's "Top Gun: Maverick." Allen has choreographed the Academy Awards ceremony seven times, according to Tuesday's press release. Thomas is known for his work on several acclaimed Spike Lee films, including "Do The Right Thing" and "Malcolm X." Parton has a long history of humanitarian work. She founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 "to inspire the children in her home county to achieve educational success," according to the organization's website, and launched the book gifting program Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in 1995. The 16th annual Governors Awards will be held Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.
Pink Villa
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
7 Actors with Most Academy Awards: From Katharine Hepburn to Frances McDormand
Getting recognition and praise at the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, is every actor's dream. Presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since 1929, the Oscars are not just about handing out a few trophies in the filmmaking circle, it is undoubtedly the most defining moment in an actor's career. For nearly a century, the golden statuettes have been seen as a symbol of cinematic excellence. It signifies that an actor's craft is not just appreciated by his fans but also by industry veterans. Bagging an Oscar or even just a nomination can completely change an actor's career, making him a massive star overnight. These are some actors who have not just tasted the Oscar glory once but several times. Katharine Hepburn has the most Oscars win for acting, followed by Daniel Day-Lewis, Meryl Streep, and Jack Nicholson among others. Here are seven actors with the most Oscar wins! Katharine Hepburn Number of Oscars: 4 Best Known For: Morning Glory (1933), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), On Golden Pond (1981) First Win: Morning Glory (1933) Key Accomplishments: Katherine Hepburn, known as Hollywood's leading lady, has an impressive career that spanned over six decades. She was nominated for an impressive 12 times at the Oscars, and she won the Best Actress award for Morning Glory, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter, and On Golden Pond. Born in Connecticut, Hepburn was an outspoken and free-spirited woman, which often reflected in the roles she picked and portrayed. She proved her acting prowess in several genres and acted in over 44 feature films, 8 telemovies, and over 30 stage plays. She died at the age of 96 in 2003. Daniel Day-Lewis Number of Oscars: 3 Best Known For: My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007), Lincoln (2012) First Win: My Left Foot (1989) Key Accomplishments: Daniel Day-Lewis won three Oscars in the Best Actor category and is regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema. After making a mark as an actor in theatre, he played pivotal roles in over two dozen films and several television shows. His performance as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln (2012) was highly praised by critics and fans. Apart from the three Oscar wins, he was nominated for the Academy Award for three more films, including Gangs of New York (2002) and Phantom Thread (2017). He retired from acting in 2017. Frances McDormand Number of Oscars: 3 Best Known For: Fargo (1996), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Nomadland (2020) First Win: Fargo (1996) Key Accomplishments: Apart from winning three Oscars in the Best Actress category, Frances McDormand also won Best Picture as a producer for Nomadland (2020). In her career spanning over four decades, she has been involved in over five dozen projects as an actor and producer. After appearing in several television roles in the '80s, she gradually moved to films and earned praise for her unmatched talent. In Chloé Zhao's Nomadland, she played the role of Fern, a nomad in the American West, and won many hearts. Meryl Streep Number of Oscars: 3 Best Known For: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Sophie's Choice (1982), The Iron Lady (2011) First Win: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) Key Accomplishments: Did you know Meryl Streep has the most nominations as an actor in Oscar history? She bagged 21 Academy Award nominations and won three. She made her feature film debut in 1977 with Julia and soon became one of the most respected actresses in Hollywood. In a career spanning over five decades, she has acted in over 60 films. In 2011, she played the role of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady and proved her acting mettle. She was last seen in the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Jack Nicholson Number of Oscars: 3 Best Known For: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Terms of Endearment (1983), As Good as It Gets (1997) First Win: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) Key Accomplishments: Jack Nicholson is considered one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. During his five-decade-long career, he has won three Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He was last seen on the silver screen in the 2010 film How Do You Know as Charles Madison. Ingrid Bergman Number of Oscars: 3 Best Known For: Gaslight (1944), Anastasia (1956), Murder on the Orient Express (1974) First Win: Gaslight (1944) Key Accomplishments: Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman is one of the most influential figures of the 20th century in cinematic history. During her career spanning over five decades, she has earned numerous accolades, including three Academy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Volpi Cup. She was last seen on the silver screen in the 1978 film Autumn Sonata as Charlotte Andergast. She also directed the film. Walter Brennan Number of Oscars: 3 Best Known For: Come and Get It (1936), Kentucky (1938), The Westerner (1940) First Win: Come and Get It (1936) Key Accomplishments: Walter Brennan's most notable films include To Have and Have Not (1944), My Darling Clementine (1946), Red River (1948), and Rio Bravo (1959). He starred in the sitcom The Real McCoys (1957–1963) and made a significant mark with his acting skills. He started acting as an extra in films at Universal Studios in 1925. After doing several small roles, his breakthrough role came in the period film Come and Get It (1936). His career-best acting is considered in Goldwyn's The Westerner (1940). He played the role of villainous Judge Roy Bean opposite Gary Cooper. The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. What started as a modest and private dinner quickly became a globally televised event watched by millions of cinema lovers. The iconic golden Oscar statuette was designed by art director Cedric Gibbons and sculpted by George Stanley. It depicts a knight holding a sword and standing on a reel of film. About nine decades ago, the ceremony was only attended by 270 people with awards in only 12 categories, including Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture. Today, it has expanded significantly with the ceremony honoring talent in more than 20 categories and hundreds of attendees. The red carpet is also a significant part of the ceremony, with stars flaunting the best of their wardrobe on the special night.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mark Ruffalo, Guy Pearce, Melissa Barrera and Ralph Fiennes Among 350+ Figures to Sign Letter About Killing of Palestinian Protagonist of Cannes-Bound Doc: ‘We Are Ashamed' of Industry ‘Passivity' (EXCLUSIVE)
A group of more than 350 international actors, directors and producers have signed a letter published on the first day of Cannes condemning the killing of Fatma Hassona, the Palestinian photojournalist and protagonist of the festival-bound documentary 'Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,' in an Israeli airstrike. The letter, signed by names such as Mark Ruffalo, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, Melissa Barrera, Yorgos Lanthimos, Javier Bardem, Hannah Einbinder, Pedro Almodóvar, David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Leigh, Alex Gibney, Viggo Mortensen, Cynthia Nixon and many more, also called out the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' for its 'lack of support' for 'No Other Land' co-director Hamdan Ballal. More from Variety 'Megalopolis' Making-Of Doc 'Megadoc' Lands at Utopia One Year After Francis Ford Coppola's Self-Funded Epic Sent Cannes Into a Frenzy (EXCLUSIVE) Jason Segel to Lead James Ponsoldt Thriller 'Sponsor,' Selling at Cannes Susan Sarandon, Mike Leigh Among 600+ Signatories of Open Letter Demanding That BBC Air Delayed Gaza Medics Documentary Just three weeks after winning the Oscar for the documentary, Ballal was assaulted by settlers and kidnapped by the Israeli army. After being criticized for its silence over the incident, AMPAS eventually publicly apologized. 'We are ashamed of such passivity,' read the letter. But the letter also urged cinema — which it said was a 'breeding ground for socially committed works' — to use its art form to 'draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed' and to be 'present to protect oppressed voices.' It concluded: 'For Fatma, for all those who die in indifference. Cinema has a duty to carry their messages, to reflect our societies. Let's act before it's too late.' See the full letter and list of signatories below: Fatma Hassona was 25 years old. She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsi's film 'Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,' in which she was the star, had been selected in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival. She was about to get married. Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed by the same Israeli strike. Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, film-makers and artists are being brutally murdered. At the end of March, Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, who won an Oscar for his film 'No Other Land,' was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers and then kidnapped by the army, before being released under international pressure. The Oscar Academy's lack of support for Hamdan Ballal sparked outrage among its own members and it had to publicly apologize for its inaction. We are ashamed of such passivity. Why is it that cinema, a breeding ground for socially committed works, seems to be so indifferent to the horror of reality and the oppression suffered by our sisters and brothers? As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard. What is the point of our professions if not to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed, if we are not present to protect oppressed voices? Why this silence? The far right, fascism, colonialism, anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+, sexist, racist, islamophobic and antisemitic movements are waging their battle on the battlefield of ideas, attacking publishing, cinema and universities, and that's why we have a duty to fight. Let's refuse to let our art be an accomplice to the worst. Let us rise up. Let us name reality. Let us collectively dare to look at it with the precision of our sensitive hearts, so that it can no longer be silenced and covered up. Let us reject the propaganda that constantly colonizes our imaginations and makes us lose our sense of humanity. For Fatma, for all those who die in indifference. Cinema has a duty to carry their messages, to reflect our societies. Let's act before it's too late. The signatories are: Khalid AbdallaNoée AbitaHany Abu-AssadRaphaëlle AgoguéIyad AlasttalCatia AlbertazziVlad AlexisTaraneh AlidoostiWaad Al-KateabYasmine Al MassriPedro AlmodóvarPedro AlonsoCristèle Alves MeiraSerdar AkarIndia AmarteifioGianni AmelioCarmine AmorosoElisa AmorusoRomain AndréRoberto AndòGeoff ArbourneFrancesca ArchibugiTiziana AristarcoSwann ArlaudOlivier AzamGökçe BahadirJeanne BalibarBalojiAvital BarakCarlos BardemJavier BardemMelissa BarreraBelma BaşDominique BaumardXavier BeauvoisSaïd Ben SaïdLeïla BekhtiLuca BellinoSuzy BembaAdila BendimeradKaouther Ben HaniaDali BenssalahFabrizio BentivoglioJulie BertuccelliSimone BittonKonstantin BojanovBertrand BonelloAgathe BonitzerAmélie BonninBruno BontzolakisLucie BorleteauSami BouajilaElodie BouchezBastien BouillonGuillaume BracRachida BrakniEvelyne BrochuSilvia BrunelliJean-Stéphane BronCeleste BrunnquellGianfranco CabidduEsmeralda CalabriaLaure CalamyMimmo CaloprestiMehmet Can MertoğluEric CantonaStefania CasiniAntonio Maria CastaldoMarco CastaldiSergio CastellittoBeniamino CatenaEbru Nuri CeylanNuri Bilge CeylanLolita ChammahMoïra Chappedelaine-VautierAmira ChebliNadim CheikhrouhaAntoine ChevrollierSimona ChioccaJulie ChristieHélier CisterneIsabel CoixetDaniele ColucciniMaddalena CrippaDavid CronenbergCosta-GavrasSaverio CostanzoPaolo CostellaPappi CorsicatoBrian CoxMarcia CrossAlfonso CuarónLiam CunninghamSinéad CusackFatima DaasCherien DabisBéatrice DalleCharles DanceCiro D'EmilioArkin Mercan DedeMary Ellen DavisSlimane DaziYann DedetMatthieu de LabordePierre DeladonchampsÉmilie DeleuzeAgnès de SacyVolfango De BiasiCiro De CaroMaura DelperoMaria De MedeirosGiuliana De SioMaria Teresa De VitoSylvain DesclousLukas DhontJuan Diego BottoAlice DiopJavad DjavaheryJulie DelpyXavier DolanDimitri DoréLaetitia DoschJoana Dos ReisMike Downey, DriverLuana DucheminSophie DupuisPierre-Nicolas DurandVirginie EfiraHannah EinbinderSayyid El AlamiOuidad ElmaAmir El-MasryMareike EngelhardtVíctor EriceBenedikt ErlingssonAdèle ExarchopoulosRoberto FaenzaFrédéric FarrucciSepideh FarsiNina FaureElda FerriMargherita FerriIsabella FerrariLisa FestaRalph FiennesSophie FiennesMilena FioreMahdi FleifelMichele FornaseroMarine FrancenBlanche GardinLena GarrelCarmen GarciaJean-Raymond GarciaNicole GarciaPablo Garcia CangaMatteo GarroneAlessandro GassmannNadia GenetXavier GensPaolo GenoveseAurélia GeorgesRichard GereDenis GheerbrantAdriano GianniniAlex GibneyRaphaël GirardotJonathan GlazerJudith GodrècheBrice GravelleEmmanuel GrasZeno GratonMarco GrecoJosé Luis GuerínDiane GuerreroSamir GuesmiVincent GuilbertAlain GuiraudieGerman GutierrezNaomi Foner GyllenhaalGrimur HákonarsonRebecca HallArthur HarariMisan HarrimanLena HeadeyClotilde HesmeHafsia HerziTed HopeVanessa HopeSandra HullerFiorella InfascelliMohamed JabalyAnnemarie JacirAlma JodorowskyÓskar JónassonElisabeth JonniauxValdimar JóhannssonRachel Leah JonesÞorsteinn JónssonGladys JoujouRadu JudeIlker KaleliAsif KapadiaSemih KaplanoğluMathieu 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MuccinoPeter MullanMargherita MuroloLino MusellaArab NasserTarzan NasserDalia NaousNadine NaousRaphaël NealEnza NegroniSusanna NicchiarelliCynthia NixonBruno NuyttenAndrea OcchipintiMichela OcchipintiJoshua OppenheimerLuis OrtegaRuben ÖstlundDamien OunouriFerzan OzpetekRosa PalascianoHlynur PálmasonDaphné PatakiaPaul PascotRaffaele PasseriniGuy PearceElisabeth PercevalAntonin PeretjatkoNahuel Pérez BiscayartAurélia PetitRalitza PetrovaJust PhilippotGiuseppe PiccioniCaroline PoggiLaura PoitrasClaire Pommet (Pomme)Franssou PrenantFrédérique PressmannVimala PonsMarco Simon PuccioniKatell QuillévéréOlivier RabourdinMichèle Ray-GavrasAnnick RedolfiChristophe RéginJérémie RenierYannick RenierRémy RicordeauMichele RiondinoYannick RossetCecilia RothMark RuffaloRúnar RúnarssonIra SachsZaho de SagazanLudivine SagnierCéline SalletteClaudio SantamariaSusan SarandonStefano SardoStefania SandrelliAloïse SauvageGreta ScaranoAngela SchanelecPierre SchoellerNiels SchneiderVassili SchneiderAlessandro ScippaAmanda SealesTracey SeawardSarah SeenéGuillaume SenezLéonor SerrailleAlia ShawkatMélanie Simon-FranzaEyal SivanGiancarlo SoldiPaolo SorrentinoMassimo SpanoMorgan SpectorLaetitia SpigarelliItalo SpinelliJuliette SmadjaRobyn SlovoRoger StahlTeona Strugar MitevskaLaurent SylvestreGianluca Maria TavarelliNatacha ThiéryJean-Pierre ThornÁsdís ThoroddsenLéa TodorovMaria Sole TognazziMelita Toscan du PlantierClaire TouzardJustine TrietAlessandro TrigonaJasmine TrincaCarice van HoutenPamela VarelaGiuseppe VarlottaIndira VarmaAnjana VasanSophie VerbeeckGiovanni VeronesiPaolo VirzìCat VilliersJonathan VinelNicolas WadimoffHarriet WalterJames WilsonLambert WilsonAlex WinterBenedict WongJessica WoodworthArieh WorthalterMaud WylerMohanad YaqubiL. Rezan YeşilbaşSofiane ZermaniAndrea Zuliani Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Fox News
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Oscars' new AI rule could lead to ‘diminishing return' in nominated films: expert
The Oscars announced several changes and updates to their rules for next year's 98th ceremony, including permission for generative artificial intelligence to be included in consideration for nominations. "With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination. The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award," the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) shared in a statement. "You're putting your finger on the scale when you're using this type of technology and, yes, humans are involved, but not in the outcome. What's involved here is the AI is doing the heavy lifting," Raymond Arroyo, Fox News contributor and host of the "Arroyo Grande" podcast, told Fox News Digital. He continued, "This is fine for some parts of filmmaking: production design and even script[s] [making] alterations and plot lines, but there's a human element that you're going to want to rely on. Because humans are imperfect, and that's what makes art, and that's what makes the human experience. In many ways, it's our striving for perfection and missing that fascinates." AI was already used in an Oscar-winning film this year, "The Brutalist." The film's editor, Dávid Jancsó, told tech magazine Red Shark News in January that AI tools from Respeecher, a Ukrainian software company, were used to improve the Hungarian dialogue spoken by stars Adrien Brody, who won for best actor at this year's Oscars, and Felicity Jones. "I am a native Hungarian speaker, and I know that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn to pronounce," Jancsó told Red Shark. "It's an extremely unique language. We coached [Brody and Jones] and they did a fabulous job, but we also wanted to perfect it so that not even locals will spot any difference." According to Jancsó, Brody and Jones recorded their voices into the AI software, and he used his own voice for some of the dialect. That kind of perfection isn't necessary, in Arroyo's opinion. "Every great story is about the hero trying to achieve something that's really out of his grasp, beyond him," he said. "But for AI, everything is within its grasp. And I do worry that some of the craftsmanship and the artistic choices will be delegated to a computer rather than to another level of human interaction and collaboration." Arroyo doesn't see AI completely replacing creatives entirely, a common fear across Hollywood, but he does believe it could negatively impact the artistic process. "You're always going to have a director, but if your set designs are being done by AI, and your costume design's being done by AI, your background music is being done by AI … you see the diminishing return. That human interaction where art is made is cut off, because you have one prime mover and a computer." The Oscars also announced another rule change that surprised many. Beginning with the upcoming ceremony, Academy members will be required to watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round. Over the years, anonymous Oscar voters have shared their ballots in trade publications, often admitting that they haven't watched some films or finished longer nominees. Arroyo speculated that that may lead to fewer members voting. "I know a number of members of the Academy who don't vote at all, and they don't because they hate most of the films being offered and don't want to sit through them," he said. "So, it's kind of their own personal defection in place." "But I mean, on the whole, it's a good idea people at least consider the nominees in total that they're voting on. But I think they're nominating too many people. You can't have 10 movies nominated for best movie. It's too much. And so it can't also become a second career for members of the Academy to vote with knowledge on your nominees. And so they may have to readjust the sheer volume [of] the awards." According to AMPAS, most categories are voted on by eligible members of their respective branch (costuming votes for costuming, editors for editors, etc.) while certain categories "may be open to members across all voting branches." For the final round, all eligible members may vote in all categories. AMPAS has not yet laid out any methodology on how to enforce this new system, leaving a gray area for how well it will work. "I don't know how professionals are going to have that much time," Arroyo said. "If they're directors and producers and, actors, designers, and they're working constantly, that's a big time suck. So how the Academy patrols it, I don't know." He suggested sending screener links that can indicate whether someone has watched it, or possibly a questionnaire about what happens in the film, but, "there's so much busy work that I think it defeats its own purpose, so they may have to walk that back." "It's a good idea, but the answer is: Nominate less, curtail your categories so you have 10 rather than 30," Arroyo added. As of 2024, there are 23 categories, with two new ones added for upcoming ceremonies. In 2026, members will be able to vote on achievements in casting, and in 2028, a long-awaited stunt category will be available.
