Oscars introduce new rule change for 2024 and what it means for the awards show

The 96th Academy Awards - or Oscars as its colloquially known - are almost upon us in what is commonly accepted as the cream of the crop when it comes to Hollywood's award season.

Taking place at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre in the heart of Hollywood itself, the Oscars will hand out gongs for the best films of 2023 across 24 categories.

Late night television presenter Jimmy Kimmel will host the show in what will be his fourth outing in the prestigious role.

All eyes will be on Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and the 13 award nominations to its name, mainly Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Cillian Murphy for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer himself.

There's also the rather unique Poor Things from Yorgos Lanthimos, which secured 11 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director.

Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon is also up for both awards, with 10 nominations to its name.

Speaking of Best Picture, the category itself has undergone a progressive and welcoming change for 2024 in a major update to the Oscars rulebook.

Almost a decade ago, the 2015 Oscars went viral on Twitter under the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite after just two people of colour received nominations in major awards categories.

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As a result, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) launched a brand new initiative dubbed Academy Aperture 2025.

It's goal? Better inclusion in the entertainment industry and boost representation within the membership as well as the wider movie community.

As part of the initiative, Academy governors DeVon Franklin and Jim Gianopulos headed a task force to develop the new guidelines, which are based on a template inspired by the British Film Institute (BFI) Diversity Standards.

It means that for the first time ever in 2024, there will be new rules in place regarding diversity.

From 2024 onwards, a film must meet two out of four established benchmarks if its creators want to be in with a chance of being nominated.

The four categories are:

• On-screen representation, themes and narratives;
• Creative leadership and project team;
• Industry access and opportunities;
• Audience development

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Here's what that really means when broken down:

On-screen representation, themes and narratives

• At least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group in a specific country or territory of production.
• At least 30 percent of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two underrepresented groups.
• The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centred on an underrepresented group(s).

Creative leadership and project team

• 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 - are from an underrepresented group and at least one of those positions must belong to someone from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
• At least six other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These positions include but are not limited to First AD, Gaffer, Script Supervisor, etc.
• At least 30 percent of the film’s crew is from at least two underrepresented groups, which may include women; racial or ethnic group; LGBTQ+; or people with cognitive or physical disabilities.

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Industry access and opportunities

• The film’s distribution or financing company has paid apprenticeships or internships that are from the following underrepresented groups and satisfy the criteria of women; racial or ethnic group; LGBTQ+; or people with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• The film’s production, distribution and/or financing company offers training and/or work opportunities for below-the-line skill development to people from the aforementioned underrepresented groups.

Audience development

• The studio and/or film company has multiple (more than one) in-house senior executives belonging to at least two underrepresented groups on their creative and development, marketing, publicity, and/or distribution teams. At least one individual must belong to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.