Oscar 2022: What is the so-called ‘Oscar of the people’ voted by fans?

It is not the first time that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences raises the idea of ​​awarding a special award to the film that the public chooses. In 2018 the intention to create a category for the best popular film or something like that was announced. A few weeks later, they gave up on their idea.

Now, the 94th edition of the Oscars will finally finalize this project. It is about the Oscar Fan Favorite (or “favorites of the fans”), a modality announced in mid-February that consists of viewers being able to vote for their favorite film of the year regardless of whether or not it has been nominated in another category.

What did it consist of? In agreement with the social network Twitter, the Academy created the hash-tag #OscarsFanFavorite, which users had to add to their tweet along with the film of their choice so that it could be counted. You could also vote for the best scene of the year. Voting for both items was open until March 3. The winning film will be announced at the gala on March 27, although it is not yet known what kind of recognition it will receive. It was made clear that it will not be recognized as a formal Oscar.

In addition to the award for the winning film, it was announced that there will be a draw to choose three participating users, who will be able to attend the 2023 Oscars with all expenses paid.

The search to integrate a larger public –and with a digital profile– to the Oscar ceremony responds to its need to reverse a downturned current situation. The 2021 gala was tuned in by just 9.85 million viewers, a 59% decrease from the previous year (followed by 23.6 million people). It was the worst edition of the Oscar in terms of tuning in all history.

It is in this line that the Academy would seek the boost that the followers of some Hollywood tanks of 2021 can give it. Will the blockbuster “Spider-Man: No Way Home” win the #OscarsFan- Favorite? Will they be able to make him the “F9″ or “No Time to Die” fight? Will fans of “Godzilla vs. Kong” or “Venom”?

Despite the good intentions, there is no shortage of those who have seen in this dynamic a desperate attempt by the Academy that could end up playing against it. According to the bases of this new category, users can vote up to 20 times per day, which possibly generates an avalanche of spam and the eventuality that some unexpected tape ends up being crowned. We will have to see how the experiment turns out for them.