Arguably the most famous award ceremony in the world is to be given a revamp in 2019 in an attempt to encourage new viewers. The Oscars will introduce a new category.
The category, Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film, will be the first to be added since 2001, when Best Animated Film was added to the list of awards. Traditionally, blockbuster and action films have been excluded from the majority of the categories, but the changes could see a hugely successful box-office hit walk away with a statuette, when previously such a film may not have received any nominations.
Other changes included a more streamlined televised production, where it is hoped the ceremony can be reduced to three hours instead of the four hours this year’s ceremony clocked up. It has also been proposed that from 2020, the ceremony be brought forward to the beginning of February instead of the end of February as has been tradition.
The changes were announced by John Bailey, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who said:
“We have heard from many of you about improvements needed to keep the Oscars and our Academy relevant in a changing world.”
There are no plans to make any changes to the iconic Oscars statuette, arguably the most coveted of engraved awards in the entertainment industry. The 24-carat gold-plated statuette will remain as it always has, with each winner’s name engraved on a plate which is attached after the ceremony.
