In A Twist, The Film Academy’s Hersholt Humanitarian Award Now Talks About “Rectifying Inequities”
deadline.comOn Monday, some sharp-eyed members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were surprised by a small but perhaps significant twist in an invitation to recommend recipients for the next round of honorary Oscars.
That is, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, historically given to those whose “humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry,” is now described as recognizing those whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit “by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities.” An Academy spokesperson declined comment on the change, and it wasn’t immediately clear how “inequities” or their rectification would be determined by the Academy’s Board of Governors, which periodically grants the award at the annual Governors Awards banquet.
The next Governors Awards is set for Sunday, November 17, and members are invited to recommend possible recipients by April 19.
The most recent Hersholt winner was Michelle Satter, who was recognized for her work with the Sundance Institute. One person familiar with the change in awards language said it was instituted by the Academy governors last December, for incorporation in the next round of Oscar rules, covering the 97thAcademy Awards.
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