Latest news with #AcademyOfMotionPictureArtsAndSciences
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Dolly Parton Joins Adele, Lady Gaga And Paul McCartney And Inches Toward EGOT Status
Dolly Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Governors Awards, bringing her ... More one step closer to EGOT status with her first Oscar. UNITED KINGDOM: American singer, songwriter and actress Dolly Parton, performs with a guitar, 1976. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) Every year, in addition to giving away Academy Awards during the televised Oscars ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also bestows a very select few artists and industry figures with honorary trophies. These are some of the most sought-after prizes in the business, as they don't require the traditional type of campaigning that many actors, musicians, writers, and directors go through each year. One of the upcoming recipients, who was just announced, will finally become an Oscar winner after decades of coming close to earning an award — and inch one step closer to the hugely-coveted EGOT status. Dolly Parton is set to collect the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the upcoming Governors Awards. The ceremony takes place in November, and it precedes the Oscars by several months. Parton will earn her first Academy Award, though not in a competitive category. Many who care about things like EGOT runs believe that prizes like the Jean Hersholt trophy still count toward an entertainer's roundup of wins, though such thoughts can be controversial. Parton has been nominated for Oscars in the past. She has twice competed for Best Original Song, first in the early 1980s for '9 to 5,' from the movie of the same name, and then in the mid-2000s with 'Travelin' Thru,' which she wrote and performed for Transamerica. Parton has already won 10 Grammys out of a total of 55 nominations throughout the decades. She also became a first-time Emmy winner at the primetime ceremony in 2021, when she won Outstanding Television Movie for Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square, a Netflix original. That means that if the singer-songwriter is looking to complete her EGOT — which stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, the four biggest prizes in the entertainment space — she only needs that last letter. Parton has touched Broadway in the past, as the remaking of 9 to 5 earned her a Best Original Score nomination at the Tonys, but she didn't come out on top. Dolly: A True Original Musical is set to premiere in Nashville soon before likely heading to the Great White Way in New York City in 2026 — and the project could also earn her a Tony Award nomination, and perhaps her first win. Parton is one of a number of superstars who are only missing a Tony Award in the pursuit of an EGOT. She joins stars like Adele, Cher, Eminem, John Williams, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Lady Gaga. The latter pop icon won her first Emmy — a Sports Emmy, at that — earlier in 2025.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Movie Theater Owners Want to Vote for Oscars and Push to Join the Academy: ‘We Watch Everything… It's a No Brainer' (EXCLUSIVE)
At the end of June, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expected to extend invitations to a new class of members who meet the professional qualifications to join the most prestigious club in Hollywood. This annual membership expansion is attracting particular attention this year from theater owners — a group that hopes to see more of its colleagues included among the people who vote on Oscar nominations and winners. Historically, the Academy's membership has skewed toward creative professionals, including directors, writers, actors, producers, and craftspeople, as well as studio executives and technicians. While a handful of exhibitors are already members of the organization, many in the theatrical exhibition community argue that their unique perspective is underrepresented, particularly at a time when the Academy is doubling down on the importance of theatrical releases. More from Variety How Hollywood Finds Its Stars: Behind the Scenes With Casting Directors, the Most Important and Least Understood Job in Movies From the Oscars Red Carpet to Open Heart Surgery: What Variety's Marc Malkin Wants You to Know About His Life-Saving Journey Jeff Margolis, Emmy-Winning Director and Producer of Live Event Broadcasts, Dies at 78 It's not unusual for professional groups within Hollywood to lobby for greater recognition or inclusion in the Academy. A decades-long campaign to acknowledge casting and stunt professionals has made notable progress: a new Oscar category for casting will debut in 2026, followed by a stunt category in 2028. These milestones followed years of advocacy, member petitions, and internal deliberations among Academy governors. Currently, the Academy is composed of 18 branches, each representing a specific discipline within the industry, with the newest Production and Technology Branch created in 2023. Committees within each branch are currently meeting to decide on membership recommendations in 2025 — a class that will help shape the Academy's future leading up to its centennial celebration in 2028. Unlike a typical guild or association, Academy membership is not open to applications. It is invitation-only, with most candidates required to secure sponsorship from two existing members within the branch they wish to join. Exceptions include Oscar nominees, who are automatically considered for membership without requiring a sponsor. The final decision rests with the Academy's Board of Governors. Multiple sources tell Variety that there is a considerable push to include more theater owners and exhibitors within the new class of members. 'The Oscars have a new requirement for voters to watch all the movies, right? So why wouldn't you include the group you know for certain watches everything?' says one anonymous exhibitor. 'It's a no-brainer.' The Academy declined to comment. Currently, only five exhibitors are among the Academy's estimated 11,000 members: Richard Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corporation (Executive Branch); Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Executive Branch); Greg Laemmle, CEO of Laemmle Theaters (Associate Branch); and David and Patricia Keighley, both of whom hold executive roles at IMAX and belong to the Production and Technology Branch. Notably, some of the five individuals have credentials beyond operating theaters. League, for example, is a co-founder of the indie distribution company Neon — the studio behind Oscar-winning films such as 'Parasite' and 'Anora' — as well as the founder of genre-focused Fantastic Fest. He is also a film producer with credits on several independent features. Still, exhibitors say the number of members with deep roots in theatrical operations is far too small — especially at a time when the Academy is tightening its standards around theatrical release requirements. This calendar year marks the second cycle of the Academy's expanded theatrical release rule for best picture eligibility. Under the updated criteria, films must still complete a one-week qualifying run in one of six U.S. markets — Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami or Atlanta — but they must also meet new standards for broader theatrical distribution. The changes were crafted following detailed analysis and consultation with distributors and exhibitors of varying sizes, aiming to protect and promote the theatrical experience in an era dominated by digital streaming. The ripple effects most directly impact the streaming giants. In 2023, Apple announced a $1 billion annual investment in theatrically-targeted films, and Amazon committed to releasing 12 to 15 movies per year in cinemas before the updated rule change. As the Academy reevaluates its internal structure, a central question remains: How large or influential does a theater chain need to be for its executives or operators to qualify for membership? In the U.S., major exhibition companies include AMC Theatres, led by Adam Aron; Cinemark, helmed by Sean Gamble; and Regal Cinemas, under the leadership of Edward Acuna. Globally, industry leaders include Alejandro Ramirez Magaña of Mexico's Cinépolis and Pavan Jain of India's PVR INOX, both of whom oversee thousands of screens across multiple territories. Yet the conversation doesn't end with the industry's most prominent players. Independent exhibitors — many of whom play a critical role in platforming indie and specialty films that often become awards contenders — are wondering whether the doors will open for them, too. Could someone like Doreen Sayegh, owner of the nearly 100-year-old Cranford Theater in New Jersey (a five-screen cinema beloved in its community), find sponsors within the Academy? What about The Moviehouse in Millerton, New York, a longstanding cultural institution in the Hudson Valley region, founded in 1978 and currently owned by David Maltby and Chelsea Altman? The Academy has repeatedly emphasized that a strong theatrical ecosystem is vital to the health and future of the film industry. Including more exhibitors in the conversation could be a logical next step — one that not only strengthens the Academy's credibility but ensures that those most directly connected to moviegoers have a seat at the table. Matt Donnelly contributed to this report. Variety Awards Circuit: Oscars Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
