Introduction
Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Adobe Foundation have collaborated to examine the gender and race/ethnicity of Academy Award® nominees and winners. Our analysis begins with the first Academy Awards® in 1929 and continues throughout each year to include nominees in 2023. The findings shed light on how the industry has changed and which categories have improved, especially following the 2015 conversations around April Reign's #OscarsSoWhite. The results focus on feature-length films and are grouped by indicator (gender, race/ethnicity) and by category. Only differences of 5 percentage points or greater will be demarcated as change.In addition to the results of the study, the groups have launched a poll to understand who audiences think should win this year’s awards. See the results here
Summary Findings
Conclusion
The aim of this website is more than just informational. While we desire that journalists, film executives, critics, students, and other industry professionals will utilize the findings on this site, we also want change. As a consumer of film, your voice matters. You can make your voice heard by posting or tweeting findings from this site. After all, a single tweet by April Reign helped to create long overdue change at the Academy Awards.® Besides posting and tweeting, please participate in our Oscars® poll. We need to let the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) know that consumers are not only watching but may be recognizing outstanding achievements in film that differ from the traditionally white, cisgendered, male voting members whose choices ultimately result in the coveted statues. The data are clear: change is overdue. You can be part of ensuring that it not only continues, but moves at a much faster pace.