While the Oscars are designed to celebrate the diverse talents that contribute to the world of cinema, some quirks in the nomination process can lead to deserving individuals being excluded. In the case of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” the Academy’s rule limiting animated feature nominations to four “teams” has resulted in the omission of director Joaquim Dos Santos. The decision follows an exception request by Sony Pictures and the filmmaking team to include all three directors as one “team,” which was declined by the Animation Branch committee.
According to the Academy’s guidelines for the Animated Feature category, a maximum of four designated nominees is allowed, with one being the credited director who exercised directorial control, and the others having a director or producer credit. Despite efforts to include all three directors, the committee’s decision left Dos Santos out of the official nominees, causing disappointment within the filmmaking team.
This rule has implications beyond “Spider-Verse,” as it previously affected Amy Pascal during the first installment, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Despite her role as a PGA credited producer, the official nominees and eventual winners were the directing trio—Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman—along with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
In a similar vein, the live-action short film category has seen its share of exclusions. David Oyelowo, actor and producer of “The After” from Netflix, is not listed as an official nominee. The Oscars’ rules for live-action short films specify that a maximum of two persons may be designated as nominees. While director Misan Harriman and producer Nicky Bentham are acknowledged, Oyelowo, who faced a major Oscar snub in the past for “Selma” (2014), misses out on a career nomination.
These nuances in the nomination process highlight the challenges faced by filmmakers, directors, and producers in gaining recognition for their contributions. The complex rules governing certain categories can lead to talented individuals being left on the sidelines, a scenario that underscores the ongoing discussions around the Academy Awards and its commitment to honoring the diverse voices within the industry.
