On 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 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 to 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 an annual banquet.
The next banquet is set for Sunday, Nov. 17, and members are invited to recommend possible recipients by April 19. The most recent Hersholt Award 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 97th Academy Awards.
This person said the change was intended as a clarification of existing policy governing the award rather than a shift from broad humanitarianism toward social activism. While intended to focus attention on efforts to cure “social inequities,” this person said the language wasn’t specifically meant to address racial, gender or disability issues.
First given in 1956, the Hersholt award was named for actor and Motion Picture Relief Fund president Jean Hersholt, who died that year.