Academy CEO Bill Kramer on Gender-Neutral Acting Categories at Oscars

Kramer took on the role of the Academy CEO in 2022. He built a career in fundraising for nonprofits like the Sundance Film Festival, CalArts School of the Arts and, most recently, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

The decreasing viewership ratings for the Academy Awards is a cause of concern for the Academy CEO Bill Kramer. It falls into his hands to ensure the Oscars stay relevant, financially secure and sensitive to the current zeitgeist. After all, the Oscars will turn a century in 2028.

“The Academy sits in two worlds: the film industry and the nonprofit arts and culture sector. And both are undergoing radical shifts in their business models right now. We need to diversify our support to ensure we thrive for the next century,” Kramer said.

Kramer took on the role of the Academy CEO in 2022. He built a career in fundraising for nonprofits like the Sundance Film Festival, CalArts School of the Arts and, most recently, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Last month, under Kramer’s leadership, the Academy launched Academy100, a global outreach and fundraising initiative tasked with gathering $500 million in the next four years.

When asked about the diversity standards that he has implemented, Kramer said, “Like the Academy, studios are more focused on diversity than they were a decade ago. Our inclusion standards, which recently went into effect, have been successful. We continuously look for ways to refine them. The Academy, being highly visible within the industry, can help lead these conversations. We work with our members to ensure they watch movies with an open mind, considering excellence across race, ethnicity, and genre. The diversification and globalisation of our membership align with how the world is evolving, keeping the Academy relevant and connected to a global industry.”

When asked about gender neutral awards at the Oscars, Kramer said, “We are exploring this topic with our awards, membership, equity, and inclusion committees and soon with our Board of Governors. It’s in the early exploration stage and one of many conversations about the future of awards and the Oscars. We are still investigating how it could look.”