MUMBAI : To focus more on a diverse audience, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility in the Best Picture category. These changes are a part of its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative that’s looking for diversity and equitable representation.
Here's what is required.
The new standards encompass both onscreen and off-screen representations. For the 96th Oscars (2024), a film must meet two of the following standards to be eligible.

On-Screen representation, themes, and narratives

Within each category, there are a variety of criteria involving the inclusion of people in underrepresented groups, including women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ community, and those with physical disabilities. However, other Oscar categories will not be held to these same standards. At least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors should be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, be it Asian, Hispanic, African American or other underrepresented race or ethnicity. Incidentally, some of the recent best picture nominees that featured almost exclusively white and male casts like 1917 or The Irishman might have had difficulty meeting the new onscreen standards.

Creative Leadership and project team
To achieve this, the film must meet one of the criteria below:
At least two of the following creative leadership positions and department heads — casting director, cinematographer, composer, costume designer, director, editor, hairstylist, makeup artist, producer, production designer, set decorator, sound, VFX supervisor, writer—should be from the following underrepresented groups: Women, racial or ethnic group, LGBTQ+ and people with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Other key roles
At least six other crew members and technical positions should be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. About 30% of the film’s crew will comprise women, members from racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ and people with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing.

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Industry access and opportunities
The film’s distribution or financing company must also allow paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities to women, racial or ethnic group, LGBTQ+ and people with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing in the following departments: Production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity.
Training opportunities and skills development
The film’s production, distribution and/or financing company must offer training and/or work opportunities to women, racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ and people with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing for skill development.

Audience development
The Academy will also focus on representation in marketing, publicity, and distribution. A studio should have multiple in-house senior executives from women, racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ and people with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing for their marketing, publicity, and/or distribution teams.

However, the new standards will not go into effect till the 96th Oscars in 2024.

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Credits: TOI