The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is set to expand the list of festivals that can serve as standalone qualifiers for the International Film Oscar category, AMPAS CEO Bill Kramer confirmed during an interview with Deadline at the Tokyo Film Festival.
Bill Kramer (Credits: Deadline)
Bill Kramer Confirms More Festivals Can Qualify Films for International Oscar
The expansion means more festivals around the world will be able to send films directly into the race for the International Feature Film Oscar, widening the path for international cinema to reach the Academy’s biggest stage. Kramer made the announcement in Tokyo, where he has become a frequent fixture on the international festival circuit in recent years.
Kramer is in Tokyo alongside AMPAS President Lynette Howell Taylor and Chief Membership, Impact and Industry Officer Meredith Shea for a series of public talks titled Academy in Tokyo, one of the headline events at this year’s Tokyo Film Festival. Kramer will also receive an honorary leadership award during the visit.
Academy in Tokyo: Oscars Leadership Takes Center Stage
The Academy in Tokyo program puts the Oscars’ leadership in front of Japanese audiences and filmmakers. On October 28, Kramer, Howell Taylor, and Shea take part in a panel discussion offering a behind-the-scenes look at the Oscars, along with insights into the Academy’s global initiatives and membership programs.
The following day, Kramer sits down with Hiro Matsuoka, president and CEO of Toho, the Japanese studio behind Oscar winner Godzilla Minus One, for a conversation covering the global cinematic landscape, the future of theatrical and streaming distribution, and next steps for international collaboration.
The Academy’s expanded qualifier list is another sign of its push to globalize the Oscars — a direction Kramer has championed since becoming CEO in 2022, including efforts to further diversify and internationalize Academy membership.
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Source: Deadline — read the full story there.