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After years of advocacy for formal recognition of stunt artistry, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the introduction of a new award dedicated to the achievement in stunt design.
This award will debut at the 100th Academy Awards, honoring films released in 2027, as confirmed by the Academy on Thursday.
“Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking,” stated Bill Kramer, the Academy’s CEO, alongside President Janet Yang. “We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists, and we congratulate them for their commitment and dedication in reaching this momentous occasion.”
David Leitch, director of The Fall Guy—which celebrated the contributions of stunt performers—has been instrumental in advocating for this new award. Leitch, whose career began as a stuntman for notable actors like Brad Pitt, went on to direct high-octane films such as John Wick. He, along with stunt coordinator Chris O’Hara from Stunts Unlimited, presented compelling arguments to the Academy for the inclusion of this recognition.
The Academy’s production and technology branch includes over 100 stunt performers, highlighting the significant role they play in the filmmaking process.
In addition to the new stunt award, the Oscars also recently announced a category for casting achievements, which will begin recognizing films released in 2025. Like the stunt design award, it remains uncertain whether this category will be featured in the live Oscar broadcast.
Source
www.theguardian.com