Academy’s inclusion rules exempt non-Best Picture competitors

When the Academy announced back in 2020 that they would be incorporating a set of inclusion standards, it was met with both cheers and jeers. As the rules are set to be fully in place for the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony, some will find they won’t have to strictly adhere to them— so long as they’re not competing for one of the most coveted prizes in the industry: the Best Picture Oscar.

As per Deadline, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has updated their Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) policies on their FAQ page. For the question, “Is it necessary to create a RAISE submission form for a film that I don’t want to be considered for Best Picture?”, the Academy said that their inclusion policies would not apply: “You will have the option to opt-in or opt-out for Best Picture consideration. If you do decide to opt-out, then you do not need to fill out a RAISE form.”

When the Academy unveiled their inclusion rules, it was divided into tiers as a way to outline their progressive goals, which primarily were directed at ensuring a certain percentage of core cast members, crew personnel and studio executives were made up of underrepresented groups, in addition to offering stronger opportunities for apprentices and interns. As per the Academy, “The standards encourage equitable representation on and off-screen to better reflect the diverse global population.”

Typically, somewhere around 300 movies are eligible for the Best Picture Oscar in any given year. With the number of nominees set at 10 — and the list of films that realistically have a fighting chance of being nominated not much more than that — that is a lot of movies that don’t have to bother with the Academy’s inclusion rules. Those who wish to compete must still complete a form reporting those statistics related to race, render and more.

What do you think about this addendum to the Academy’s inclusion rules? How do you think this will change the look of the Best Picture nominees? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.