The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the creation of two separate branches, dividing the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch into two distinct entities: the Animation Branch and the Short Films Branch.
The Animation Branch will represent approximately 700 Academy members working in the animation industry. This branch will have two governor representatives on the Board of Governors to oversee the animated feature film and animated short film awards.
The Short Films Branch consists of more than 200 members whose work spans narrative and nonfiction short filmmaking. This branch will have one governor representative, who will be elected for a term starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year and will oversee the live action short award.
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“The Academy is dedicated to advancing and evolving with our growing global membership and with the film industry,” said Bill Kramer, Academy CEO and Janet Yang, Academy President in a statement. “As both the Academy’s shorts and animation communities have grown, and to ensure they continue to thrive, the need for two individual branches became increasingly apparent,” said Academy Short Films and Feature Animation Branch governors Bonnie Arnold, Jinko Gotoh and Marlon West. “We’re excited about the future of these two branches and thank our fellow governors for their support.”
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That change gives the Academy 19 branches representing all facets of the film industry. The Board of Governors will remain at its current size of 55 members.
The Short Subjects Branch was initially created in 1941 and was renamed the Short Films Branch in 1974. In 1995, the branch was again renamed the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch. The animated feature film award was established in 2001.
In March 2023, the Academy created the Production and Technology Branch, comprised of key technical and production positions in all phases of filmmaking, from pre- to post-production in Hollywood. Earlier this month, the Oscars announced a new category for best achievement in casting, set to be introduced for films released in 2025.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
This year’s nominees for animated feature are: “The Boy and the Heron,” “Elemental,” “Nimona,” “Robot Dreams” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” In animated short, the nominees are “Letter to a Pig,” “Ninety-Five Senses,” “Our Uniform,” “Pachyderme” and “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” while the live action short lineup includes “The After,” “Invincible,” “Knight of Fortune,” “Red, White and Blue” and “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.”
The 96th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 10 at a new time, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, from the Dolby Theater. Jimmy Kimmel is returning to host the ceremony, which can be watched live on ABC and in over 200 territories worldwide.