Academy Announces Next Phase of Equity and Inclusion Initiative
BY SCOTTIE KNOLLIN
On the heels of announcing the newest Board of Governors members, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the next phase of its equity and inclusion initiative. Titled “Academy Aperture 2025,” the initiative follows the more recent A2020, a similar direction to make the Academy and the Oscars more diverse and inclusive.
Separated into phases, the initiative’s first phase directly impacts the Oscars and Academy governance, membership, and workplace culture.
According to the Academy’s official press release, the film group will begin to introduce even more equitable hiring practices and representation on and off the screen in order to reflect the diversity of the film community, with regards to the Oscars ceremony and telecast. The Academy, in collaboration with the Producers Guild of America, will crate a task force of industry leaders to develop and implement new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility. This requirement is set to be completed by July 31,m 22020. It will not impact the eligibility rules for the upcoming 93rd Academy Awards.
What will be impacted is the 94th Academy Awards, set to take place in 2022 for films released in 2021. That ceremony will re-introduce a Best Picture category with a set number of 10 nominees. For the past decade, the category has had a fluctuating number of films, depending on voting outcomes. To assist in guaranteeing the greatest possible exposure for eligible films, the Academy Screening room, the streaming site for Academy members, will showcase eligible films throughout the year.
The Academy was expected to announce possible updates to the schedule for the 93rd Academy Awards (including an expected change-of-date), due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It was not included in today’s press release.
The governing body and membership regulations are also receiving updates. The Academy shared that the current Board of Governors participated in unconscious bias training this past January. They plan to make the same training a requirement for all Academy governors, branch executive committee members, and Academy staff on an annual basis. The group will also offer the training to the 9,000+ Academy members.
Additionally, the Academy’s bylaws were amended to enact maximum governor term limits. Once it goes into effect, governors will be allowed to serve on the board for up to two three-year terms (consecutive or non-consecutive), followed by a two-year hiatus, after which eligibility renews for up to two additional three-year terms. The lifetime maximum will be set at a total of 12 years.
To challenge diversity and inclusion with the external audience, the Academy will host a series of panels called “Academy Dialogue: It Starts with Us” for members and the public. The series will feature conversations about race, ethnicity, history, opportunity, and the art of filmmaking. Programs will also include a conversation hosted by Academy governor Whoopi Goldberg on the lasting impact of racist roes and harmful stereotypes in Hollywood films.
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, still set to open later this year, will continue working in active partnership with the recently expanded Inclusion Advisory Committee to help develop public programs, exhibitions, and collection that confront racism, champion the work of diverse artists, and expose historical omissions.
Lastly, the Academy shared it will establish an Office of Representation, Inclusion and Equity to oversee the “Aperture 2025” initiative. The office will work with the Board of Governors, Academy staff, and experts to ensure the implementation of best practices and accountability throughout the organization. Academy COO Christine Simmons will lead the office.
At the end of the release, the Academy shared that the annual list of newly invited members will be announced in July. To read the full Academy press release, click here.
