Every year, millions of people around the world watch the Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars. For Indian audiences, interest peaks each autumn when the country announces its official entry and again in early spring when the winners are revealed. But how does a film actually become an Oscar nominee, who votes, and how does India choose its submission? This guide explains the Oscars process in simple terms.
Key Takeaways
- The Oscars are given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- Members of each branch nominate in their own field; all members vote for winners.
- Best Picture uses a ranked, preferential ballot.
- Each country can submit one film for Best International Feature Film.
- India’s entry is selected by a jury set up by the Film Federation of India.
Who Gives the Oscars?
The Oscars are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a professional organisation based in Los Angeles. Its members are film professionals such as actors, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, composers and sound designers. The Academy has members from many countries, including India, and membership is by invitation.
Members belong to branches based on their profession, for example the Actors Branch, Directors Branch or Music Branch. These branches play a major role in deciding nominations.
Which Films Are Eligible?
For most categories, a feature film must have a qualifying theatrical release in the United States within the eligibility year and meet the Academy’s rules on running time, release length and format. The Academy publishes detailed rules every year, and they change from time to time. Recent rules also include representation and inclusion standards for Best Picture.
The Best International Feature Film category works differently. Here, films do not need a US theatrical release. Instead, each country submits one film that was released in its home country during the eligibility period and is mainly in a language other than English.
How Nominations Work
Nominations are decided branch by branch. Actors nominate actors, directors nominate directors, editors nominate editors, and so on. Best Picture is the exception: all voting members can nominate films for it.
For the International Feature Film category, Academy members who opt in watch the submitted films. A shortlist of 15 films is announced first, followed by five final nominees. Several other categories, such as documentary, music and visual effects, also have shortlists before nominations.
How Winners Are Chosen
Once nominations are announced, all voting members can vote in most categories for the final winners. In most categories, the nominee with the most votes wins.
Best Picture uses a preferential or ranked-choice ballot. Members rank all nominated films. If no film gets more than half of the first-place votes, the film with the fewest first-place votes is removed and its ballots are redistributed to the next choice. This continues until one film crosses the majority mark. The aim is to choose a film that is broadly liked across the Academy, not just the favourite of a small group.
Voting is conducted online, and the results are kept secret by an independent accounting firm until the envelopes are opened on stage.
| Stage | Who Takes Part | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Submissions | Studios, producers, countries | Films are entered and checked for eligibility |
| Shortlists | Specific branches or committees | Selected categories narrowed down |
| Nominations | Members of each branch | Usually five nominees per category, up to ten for Best Picture |
| Final voting | All voting members | Winners chosen; Best Picture by ranked ballot |
| Ceremony | Academy and broadcaster | Winners announced live |
How India Chooses Its Official Entry
India’s submission for Best International Feature Film is chosen by a selection jury formed by the Film Federation of India, an umbrella body of film producers, distributors and exhibitors. Producers who want their film considered send it in, and the jury watches the entries before announcing a single film, usually in September or October.
Being selected is only the first step. The producers then need to campaign in the United States, arrange screenings for Academy members and promote the film, which can be expensive. Strong festival recognition and good international distribution often help a film’s chances.
India’s Notable Oscar Moments
- Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Lagaan (2001) received nominations in the foreign-language film category.
- Bhanu Athaiya became the first Indian to win an Oscar, for costume design on Gandhi.
- Satyajit Ray received an Honorary Award for his lifetime contribution to cinema.
- A.R. Rahman, Resul Pookutty and Gulzar won for their work on Slumdog Millionaire.
- “Naatu Naatu” from RRR won Best Original Song, and The Elephant Whisperers won Best Documentary Short Film in the same year.
Why Campaigns Matter So Much
Academy members cannot watch every eligible film. Studios therefore run awards campaigns with screenings, interviews, advertisements and events to make sure members actually see their films. A film with a modest campaign can be overlooked even if it is excellent, which is why distribution partners and festival buzz are so important for international titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Indian film compete in categories other than International Feature?
Yes. If it meets the general eligibility rules, including a qualifying US theatrical release, an Indian film can compete in categories such as Best Picture, Original Song or acting categories.
How many films can India submit?
Only one film per country can be submitted for Best International Feature Film each year.
Who counts the votes?
An independent accounting firm tabulates the votes and keeps the results confidential until the ceremony.
When are the Oscars usually held?
The ceremony usually takes place in late February or March, with nominations announced a few weeks earlier.
Conclusion
The Oscars combine peer recognition with a long campaign season. Branch members decide nominations, the full Academy picks winners, and Best Picture uses a ranked ballot to find a consensus choice. For India, the journey begins with the Film Federation of India’s selection, but real success depends on visibility and a strong campaign abroad. Understanding the process makes it easier to follow the excitement each awards season.