The Oscars announce new diversity requirements for Best Picture

The Oscars want to alter their #OscarsSoWhite perception and find a way to create real change. That’s the message the Academy seems to be sending with a newly-announced initiative that demands new diversity requirements for all future films hoping to win that coveted Best Picture trophy.As a part of the Academy Aperture 2025 initiative (an ongoing effort to increase diversity in the film community), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) revealed new representation and inclusion standards for its 94^th and 95^th annual ceremonies, which are currently scheduled to take place in 2022 and 2023. Now, for those shows, any films hoping to be considered for Best Picture are required to fill out a confidential Academy Inclusion Standards form. Then, in 2024 for the 96^th Oscars ceremony, all films submitting for Best Picture will need to meet two of the four standards.

Change starts now. We've announced new representation and inclusion standards for Best Picture eligibility, beginning with the 96th #Oscars. Read more here: https://t.co/qdxtlZIVKb pic.twitter.com/hR6c2jb5LM

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) September 9, 2020

“The aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them,” president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a joint statement. “The Academy is committed to playing a vital role in helping make this a reality.”So what are those four standards that filmmakers are required to meet? They include on-screen representation, themes and narratives; creative leadership and project team; industry access and opportunities; and audience development. Within each of those sections there are several subsections laying out the groundwork for some much needed change, which you can read about in full on the Academy’s official site.[video_embed id='2031666']WATCH: Kirstie Alley calls new Oscar guidelines a 'disgrace to artists everywhere'[/video_embed]The initiative is one of the latest by the AMPAS to do better after failing to nominate projects that are diverse in cast, directors and technical people behind-the-scenes over the years. Previously, in 2016, then-Academy President Cheryl Boon Isaacs committed to doubling the number of women and diverse members by 2020, which the organization achieved earlier this summer.In June the AMPAS elected six new members to the board of governors (including Ava DuVernay as the representative of its directors branch), in a vote that set records. The 54-person board is now comprised of 26 women and 12 people of colour, up from 25 and 11 respectively the year before. That’s the most women and people of colour the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board has ever had.According to Variety, the diversity and inclusion initiative is contained to Best Picture for now. All other Academy categories will keep their current eligibility requirements. So, in the case of categories like Animated or International Feature (AKA categories where the nominated films could also be in contention for Best Picture), the requirements for each category will be addressed separately.Meanwhile, the upcoming 2021 Oscars, which were pushed back to April 25 because of the coronavirus pandemic, will continue accepting applications for Best Picture as usual. However, because of the worldwide production shutdowns, it has extended its eligibility period to February 28 next year. Film fans can expect the official nominations to be revealed on March 15.[video_embed id='2004641']Before you go: Naomi Campbell reacts to Anna Wintour’s note on Vogue’s lack of diversity[/video_embed]