Who is Eligible to Vote for the Academy Awards?

Question: Who is Eligible to Vote for the Academy Awards?

Answer: Voters must be members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Initial voting is restricted to members of the Academy branch concerned. For instance, when the first wave of ballots is mailed to all members of the Academy, only directors may nominate other directors. Once the first round of voting is done and the field has been narrowed to no more than five nominees in each category, then all members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are allowed to vote for a winner in most categories, including Best Picture.

In 2006 the Academy changed the rules for the Foreign Language Film category. A large screening group consisting of members representing all the branches of the Academy vote on the eligible foreign language films. After the final five are selected, then all members of the Academy may vote for the winner.

The Academy was formed in May 1927 and is a non-profit corporation. The Academy has grown from 36 members to 6,500 highly qualified individuals representing 14 branches of interest - actors, animators and short film makers, art directors and costume designers, cinematographers, composers and songwriters, documentary filmmakers, directors, executives, film editors, producers, public relations specialists, sound technicians, visual effects experts, and writers.

SOURCE: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences