The Academy Awards Reflect Growing Number of International Members

The internationalization of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ membership body is starting to have a major impact on which films get nominated for and win the biggest award in American cinema — the Oscar.

The Big Picture: For decades, the Academy-Award nominations and wins have been an integral motivator for American studios to make more challenging movies, for talent to sign onto those projects, and for the films themselves to boost awareness and ticket sales. By going global, the Academy may be throwing a wrench into that delicate ecosystem.

Behind the Scenes: Want to start your Oscar prognosticating early? Pay attention to what’s a hit at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

• Last year, Anora, Emilia Pérez, The Substance, and Flow debuted at Cannes. All of them were nominated for Oscars in several categories and took home statuettes — a record 40% of them to be exact.
• Anora, from indie darling Sean Baker, was the big winner, taking home five awards, including Best Picture. It also won Cannes’ top prize, the Palme d’Or — becoming one of just four Palme winners to also claim the top Oscar.
• Flow, a Latvian film from Gints Zilbalodis, shocked the Dolby Theatre when it beat Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot for Best Animated Feature.
• Anora, Emilia Pérez, and The Substance were all nominated for Best Picture. Additionally, the Brazilian film I’m Still Here was also nominated. Emilia Pérez and I’m Still Here were also in contention for Best International Feature.

Closing Credits: According to Puck, there were roughly 6,100 AMPAS voting members in 2014. Looking to diversify and internationalize, the Academy has undergone a massive member expansion since then. There are almost 10,000 members, and 40% of its new members are international. Per Variety, total AMPAS membership from outside the US has swelled to roughly 30%.

This is clearly a change the Academy is okay with, but Hollywood insiders and media analysts have questions: How does the growing presence of international films affect the award show’s ratings? Are there now fewer viewers in the US but more internationally? Does that impact ad sales, which is how the Academy makes most of its annual revenue? It’s likely too early to tell, but expect that data to be watched as closely as this year’s Cannes lineup.