Oscars Expansion: Free Global Stream and Membership Growth

Academy leadership in Tokyo confirmed that the Oscars ceremony will move to YouTube in 2029, allowing 2.5 billion viewers in over 30 languages to watch the event for free. CEO Bill Kramer described the platform shift as an intentional move to reach a larger global audience simultaneously. The ceremony will be available in the same format to everyone, removing the previous barrier of regional paywalls or broadcast limitations.

The announcement follows a decade of structural changes within the organization. Kramer noted that members living outside the United States have increased from 5% to 25% over the last ten years. The Academy currently counts about 70 members in Japan. President Lynette Howell Taylor explained that branch committees, known as Aperture committees, actively search for filmmakers in underrepresented countries. She stated that the qualification standards have not changed, but the organization is now looking for excellence in more locations.

The leadership team discussed how the 2020 win for 'Parasite' changed the Academy's perspective on global cinema. Kramer called the moment a pivot in thinking about what was possible for international films at the awards show. He pointed out that every category at the most recent ceremony had international representation, including the best picture winner. The group also highlighted growth in animation submissions, which rose from 12 to nearly 40 over a decade, with at least six anime titles submitted annually.

Academy officers detailed the logistical aspects of the expansion. Meredith Shea, the chief membership, impact and industry officer, noted that submitting a film for Oscar consideration costs nothing. More than 200 festival awards make short films automatically eligible, and members can access contenders through the Academy Screening Room app. Shea emphasized that the Academy is not an L.A.-based, Hollywood-centric organization but a global entity that welcomes all filmmakers.

The leadership team is also evaluating which festivals qualify films for the international feature race. Kramer said the Academy is undertaking a process this year to expand the list beyond the current six festivals. Howell Taylor confirmed that discussions are ongoing. The initial selection was based largely on calendar timing, and the Academy is just beginning conversations with other major film events. Kramer stated that the international feature category is not redundant at this time, even as the Academy becomes more international.

The panel took place at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where the festival director Hisamatsu Takeo moderated the discussion. The festival presented Kramer with its Global Cinema Leadership Special Award. The Academy has visited India, London, Rio, Morelia, Marrakech, and Busan in recent years. Kramer said the Academy’s city-by-city member events will continue all over the world, marking Tokyo as the first official trip to this specific film festival.

Academy Museum director Amy Homma also spoke with reporters in Tokyo. The leadership group discussed artificial intelligence and the 2029 YouTube ceremony in separate conversations. Kramer closed the panel by noting the sense of community and collaboration among filmmakers in Tokyo, describing it as heartening in a time of global complexities.