The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are a set of awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry. Given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the awards recognize excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy’s voting membership. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a golden statuette, officially called the “Academy Award of Merit,” but more commonly referred to as the “Oscar.”
The awards ceremony is an important event in the film industry, attended by many of the world’s leading actors, directors, and filmmakers. It is also a major television event, broadcast live in more than 100 countries annually. The Oscars are the oldest entertainment awards ceremony and its equivalents in television (Emmy Awards), music (Grammy Awards), and theater (Tony Awards) are often cited as the model for industry awards.
The Oscars feature multiple categories, including but not limited to Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and categories for technical achievements like cinematography, costume design, and visual effects. The awards aim to celebrate the best films of the year, and winning an Oscar is considered one of the highest honors in the film industry, symbolizing peer recognition of excellence in motion pictures.