Oscars to Draw Up Diversity Rules for Nominees

Hollywood’s motion picture academy will introduce new eligibility rules to enhance diversity among Oscars nominees under a raft of new measures announced Friday.

The move comes after years of criticism over a lack of diversity among the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ members, and among the Oscar nominees and winners, they select.

“To ensure more diverse representation,” a new task force will be set up “to develop and implement new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility,” the organization said in a statement.

The measures will not affect films in contention this year.

The Academy did not give any details about the new rules, but said the changes are intended to “encourage equitable hiring practices and representation on and off screen.”

It will also host a series of panel discussions on diversity, including a talk hosted by Academy governor Whoopi Goldberg on “the lasting impact of racist tropes and harmful stereotypes in Hollywood films.”

Changes were announced after widespread anti-racism demonstrations that have engulfed the world after George Floyd was killed in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

Since 2015 and the # OscarsSoWhite campaign, the Academy has made concerted attempts to extend its membership.

The annual intake of new members reached 50 percent female for the first time in 2019, while non-white membership has doubled in five years.

But less than one-third admitted were people of color.

“To truly meet this moment, we must recognize how much more needs to be done, and we must listen, learn, embrace the challenge, and hold ourselves and our community accountable,” said Academy President David Rubin.

Among other changes agreed at this week’s governor meeting, the best picture category will have a mandatory 10 nominees from next year.

Currently, the category has a fluctuating number between five and 10 contenders each year.

No decision was made on the scheduling of the Oscars ceremony, following news that the date of February 28 is set to be delayed due to the pandemic.

Source: AFP