1965 (38th) Voting Rules Book cover


1965 (38th Annual Awards)
Academy Award Voting Rules

Each year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences publishes a booklet for its members detailing the current revised rules for nominating and voting for Academy Awards. Listed below is the exact text of the rules for the 1965 (38th) Awards.

Click on a year in the column on the right to display the Voting Rules for another year.

Note: Although the typography has been modified slightly for greater consistency and easier reading on this website, the text displayed for each Rule Book is exactly as it was originally printed (including the original—sometimes quirky—outline format and occasional spelling errors).

38th ANNUAL
ACADEMY AWARDS OF MERIT
FOR ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 1965



VOTING RULES

ONE

The Awards Year

Academy Awards of Merit shall be bestowed for achievements in connection with motion pictures first publicly exhibited for paid admission (previews excluded ) in a regular commercial motion picture theatre in the Los Angeles area (defined as Los Angeles, West Los Angeles or Beverly Hills), between January 1, 1965 and midnight of December 31, 1965, such exhibition being for a consecutive run of not less than a week after an opening prior to midnight of December 31st; following normal exploitation and advertising utilized by the producer for his other pictures within the dates specified.

Entertainment Short Subjects which qualify under Rule Eighteen, distributed nationally by a recognized distributing organization on a rental basis to 35mm or 70mm theatres for the profit of the producer and distributor, and booked anywhere in Los Angeles County for a definite first paid play date of three consecutive days after an opening prior to midnight, December 31, 1965, shall be eligible for consideration for the Awards.

Foreign Language Film Award entries must have been first exhibited in a regular commercial motion picture theatre in the country of origin between November 1, 1964 and October 31, 1965.

Pictures which qualify under the above rule, but which have also been exhibited in another medium are not to be excluded from eligibility, provided their first exhibition in another medium has occurred during the same Awards year.

TWO

The Annual Awards

Subject to the inability of the producer to comply herewith, every Award shall be conditioned upon the delivery to the Academy of one print of every film nominated for final balloting for all Academy Awards, and such print shall become the property of the Academy, with the proviso, however, that the Academy shall not use such print for commercial gain. Such print shall be deposited with the Academy and, subject to matters not within its control, shall be screened by the Academy for the membership in advance of distribution of final ballots.

Awards of Merit in the form of gold statuettes shall be conferred for the following achievements:

ACTING: For the best performance by an actor.
For the best performance by an actor in a supporting role.
For the best performance by an actress.
For the best performance by an actress in a supporting role.
ART DIRECTION: For the best achievement in art direction of a black-and-white picture.
For the best achievement in art direction of a color picture.
(The Academy statuette shall be given to the Set Decorator on the pictures which win the Art Direction Awards.)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: For the best achievement in cinematography of a black-and-white picture.
For the best achievement in cinematography of a color picture.
COSTUME DESIGN: For the best achievement in costume design of a black-and-white picture.
For the best achievement in costume design of a color picture.
DIRECTING: For the best achievement in directing.
DOCUMENTARY: For the best achievement in each of two classifications:
(a) Documentary features, more than 3,000 feet.
(b) Documentary short subjects, 3,000 feet or less.
FILM EDITING: For the best achievement in film editing.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: For the best foreign language film of the year.
MUSIC: For the outstanding achievements in music in connection with motion pictures:
(a) Best music score—substantially original.
(b) Best scoring of music—adaptation or treatment.
(c) Best song.
BEST PICTURE: For the best motion picture of the year.
SHORT SUBJECTS: For the best achievement in each of two classifications:
(a) Cartoons, 3,000 feet or less.
(b) Live action subjects, 3,000 feet or less.
SOUND: For the best achievement by a sound department.
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS: For the best achievement in special visual effects.
WRITING: For the best screenplay—based on material from another medium.
For the best story and screenplay—written directly for the screen.

THREE

Other Awards

Not necessarily given each year.

  1. Achievements or pictures eligible for Awards listed in Rule Two cannot qualify for Honorary Awards or Other Awards.
  2. SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMET: For a device, method, formula, discovery, or invention of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures, and actually employed in the motion picture industry during the Awards year. The Class I Award (Academy statuette) shall be conferred for basic achievements which have a definite influence upon the advancement of the industry; the Class II Award (Academy plaque) for those achievements which exhibit a high level of engineering or technical merit and which are important contributions to the progress of the industry; the Class III Award (Certificate of Honorable Mention ) for those accomplishments which are valuable contributions to the progress of the industry. (See Rule Seven teen.)
  3. IRVING G. THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARD (Thalberg head): Shall be given at such times as in the judgment of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences there is a deserving recipient, but not necessarily each year. It shall be given to a creative producer who has been responsible for a consistent high quality of motion picture production. No one shall be eligible to receive the Thalberg Award more than once. (See Rule Twenty-two.)
  4. SOUND EFFECTS AWARD (Statuette): For the best achievement in sound effects. (See Rule Twenty.)
  5. JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD (Statuette): Shall be given at such times as in the judgment of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences there is a deserving recipient, but not necessarily each year. It shall be given to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry. No one shall be eligible to receive this award more than once.

FOUR

Honorary Awards

  1. For outstanding achievements not strictly within the categories listed in Rules Two and Three. Honorary Awards shall only be given, however, for superlative and distinguished service in the making of motion pictures or for outstanding service to the Academy.
  2. Achievements voted Honorary Awards may be in connection with foreign as well as domestic productions and are not limited to the Awards year. Achievements or pictures eligible for Awards listed in Rule Two cannot qualify for Honorary Awards.
  3. Honorary Awards shall be in such form as the Academy Board of Governors may decide.

FIVE

General Rules

  1. Final balloting on all achievements shall be restricted to active Academy members.
  2. The established gold statuette trophy of the Academy shall be conferred for all achievements listed in Rule Two, for the Class I Scientific or Technical Awards, the Sound Effects Award, and for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. The Academy plaque shall be given for Class II Scientific or Technical Awards. The Thalberg head shall be given for the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Trophies to be given for all Honorary Awards shall be determined by the Academy Board of Governors.
  3. Final voting for Awards shall be by secret ballot. Printed forms and ballots shall be supplied by the Academy and shall be returned unsigned.
  4. Ballots shall be opened and counted by a firm of certified public accountants designated by the Academy President.
  5. Awards shall be conferred at an Awards Presentation Ceremony.
  6. In the event that an achievement voted an Award was done in collaboration, each of the collaborators shall receive an Award trophy. In the event of a tie for first place in the final balloting, Awards shall be given for both achievements.
  7. In the nominations voting, the marking and tabulation of all ballots shall be according to the preferential or proportional system. No “write-in” votes shall be counted on the final ballots.
  8. The Board of Governors shall provide for such meetings, subcommittees and special showings as may be desirable to insure a full and fair consideration of the merits of all eligible achievements.
  9. It being the intention that motion pictures from all countries shall be eligible for consideration for the Awards listed under Rule Two, the rules shall be construed liberally to include such motion pictures, except that they must have been shown in the Los Angeles area (defined as Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, or Beverly Hills) within the Awards year, must be in English or with English titles, and the producers or distributors shall provide prints when necessary for review showings. Exceptions to this rule shall be made for the Documentary Awards (see Rule Twelve), and the Short Subjects Awards (see Rule Eighteen). An exception shall also be made for the Foreign Language Film Award, for which pictures must have a non-English sound track, but may have English titles, and need not have been shown in the United States, but shall have been first exhibited in a commercial theatre in the country of origin between November 1, 1964 and October 31, 1965 (see Rule Fourteen). If a film entered for the Foreign Language Film Award is first released commercially in the Los Angeles area for a period of seven consecutive days during the Awards year, then it shall be eligible for Awards consideration in all other categories, provided it has English subtitles. If, however, a Foreign Language Film is not exhibited in the Los Angeles area during the year in which it is an entry for the Foreign Language Film Award competition it may, in another year, compete for all other Awards if, in that year, it qualifies.
  10. If any picture has been recut, re-edited or changed after its first commercial release so as to alter the Awards eligibility of any achievement therein, the Academy Board of Governors may require proof that the changes have been made in all domestic release prints before ruling on the Awards eligibility of achievements affected by the re-release of the picture.

SIX

General Rules for Nominations Voting

  1. Each branch shall be permitted to formulate its own Special Rules, provided the final ballot presents not more than five achievements and that final voting in each category is restricted to active Academy members. All branches shall present their Special Rules for approval of the Board of Governors before putting them into operation.
  2. Academy craft branch members who are also active members of another craft or guild, shall be permitted to vote on nominations in those categories for which they are qualified, subject to branch approval.
  3. No more than five nominations shall be made for each Award. In all cases nominations shall be announced and placed on the final ballot in alphabetical order.
  4. Each nomination shall refer only to the motion picture in which the achievement was made, and not to any individual responsible except in the case of nominations for Acting which name both the individual and the one picture in which the achievement occurred.
  5. The Academy shall prepare reminder lists of all eligible pictures, but before distribution to voters, studios must check and assume full responsibility for errors and omissions.
  6. Eligibility for all Awards shall first be determined by credits as they appear on the screen and/or as certified to the Academy by the producing companies, but final determination in any event shall be made by the Academy.
  7. No changes in credits made after the nominations are announced will be recognized for Awards.

SEVEN

Special Rules for the Acting Awards

  1. A reminder list including the casts of all eligible pictures shall be sent with the nominations ballots to all members of the Academy Actors Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five Acting achievements in each category: Best Performance by an Actor, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Performance by an Actress, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.
  2. The five Acting achievements in each category receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Acting Awards.
  3. In the event that two achievements by an actor or actress shall receive sufficient votes to be nominated in the same category, only the one which, in the preferential tabulation process, first receives the quota (number of votes required to be nominated) shall be nominated. The votes for the second achievement shall thereupon be redistributed.
  4. Performances by an actor or actress in any role shall be eligible for nomination either for the Best Acting Award or for the Award for Supporting Player. However, if performances or a performance by any actor or actress should receive sufficient votes to be nominated for both the Best Acting Award and the Award for Supporting Player, only the achievement which, in the preferential tabulation process, first receives the quota shall be placed on the ballot. The votes for the second achievement shall thereupon be redistributed.
  5. Final voting for the Acting Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members.

EIGHT

Special Rules for the Art Direction Awards

Black-and-White Art Direction
  1. A reminder list of all eligible bIack-and-white pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all art director and set decorator members of the Academy Art Directors Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than five productions. A meeting of the Academy Art Directors Branch shall be held to pass on the eligibility of all productions for Awards consideration.
  2. The ten productions receiving the greatest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all members of the Art Directors Branch an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
  3. Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to all members of the Art Directors Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the greatest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Black-and-White Art Direction Award.
  4. Final voting for the Black-and-White Art Direction Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.
Color Art Direction
  1. The voting procedure for the award for Color Art Direction shall be the same as specified in the rules above governing the Black-and-White Art Direction Award.
Set Decoration
  1. Recognition in the form of Academy statuettes shall be given to the set decorators of each production which receives an Award for achievement in Art Direction.

NINE

Special Rules for the Cinematography Awards

Black-and-White Cinematography
  1. A reminder list of all eligible black-and-white pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all members of the Academy Cinematographers Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than ten productions.
  2. The ten productions receiving the greatest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all members of the Cinematographers Branch an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
  3. Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to all members of the Cinematographers Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the greatest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Black-and-White Cinematography Award.
  4. Final voting for the Black-and-White Cinematography Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.
Color Cinematography
  1. The voting procedure for the award for Color Cinematography shall be the same as specified in the rules above governing the Black-and-White Cinematography Award.

TEN

Special Rules for the Costume Design Awards

Black-and-White Costume Design
  1. A reminder list of all eligible black-and-white pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all costume designer members of the Academy Art Directors Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than ten productions. A meeting of the Academy Art Directors Branch shall be held to pass on the eligibility of all productions for Awards consideration. To be eligible for the Costume Design Awards, the principal costumes must have been created specifically for the picture by the Costume Designer.
  2. The ten productions receiving the greatest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all members of the Art Directors Branch an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
  3. Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to all members of the Art Directors Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the greatest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Black-and-White Costume Design Award.
  4. Final voting for the Black-and-White Costume Design Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.
Color Costume Design
  1. The voting procedure for the award for Color Costume Design shall be the same as specified in the rules above governing the Black-and-White Costume Design Award.

ELEVEN

Special Rules for the Directing Award

  1. A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a nominations ballot to all members of the Academy Directors Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five directing achievements.
  2. The five directing achievements receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Directing Award.
  3. In the event that two achievements by one director shall receive sufficient votes to be nominated only the one which, in the preferential tabulation process, first receives the quota (number of votes required to be nominated) shall be nominated. The votes for the second achievement shall thereupon be redistributed.
  4. Final voting for the Directing Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

TWELVE

Special Rules for the Documentary Awards

  1. Documentary films are defined as those dealing with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other significant subjects, either photographed in actual occurrence or re-enacted and where the emphasis is more on factual content than on entertainment. The purely technical instructional film will not be considered.
  2. Films eligible for Documentary Awards shall be divided into two groups:
    1. Documentary features—films more than 3,000 feet in length.
    2. Documentary short subjects—films of 3,000 feet or less.
  3. Only one entry in each classification will be accepted from each producer.
  4. To be eligible, a documentary film must have been exhibited for the first time during the calendar year by having been projected in an auditorium, theatre or other room in which there was assembled a typical audience for which the subject was made. Pictures which have also been exhibited in another medium but which qualify under the above rule are not to be excluded from eligibility, provided the first exhibition in another medium has occurred during the same Awards year.
  5. Entries in the documentary field will be limited to films either produced in, or enlarged to, 35mm or 70mm, in which significant dialogue or narration is in English or which have English subtitles.
  6. All entries submitted must include a written description of the subject. The print, accompanied by the synopsis, must be received by the Academy, 9038 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood 69, California, no later than Friday, December 31, 1965.
  7. The Documentary Awards Committee will view all films entered for consideration and the committee’s selections will then become the nominations. The nominated pictures shall be screened for the active Academy membership, whose balloting will determine the awards in both categories.
  8. No member of the Documentary Awards Committee who has actively participated in the making of any entry shall be permitted to vote on films in that category. (Short Subjects or Features)
  9. All prints submitted must remain with the Academy for screening until the presentation of the Awards in April, 1966. Films should be shipped express prepaid, and those not chosen as nominations for final balloting by the active Academy membership will be returned to the sender, express prepaid by the Academy. The Academy will not pay import or customs duties on foreign films submitted for Documentary Awards consideration. Our responsibility for return shipping costs applies only to transportation within the United States.
  10. “Subject to the inability of the producer to comply herewith, every award shall be conditioned upon the delivery to the Academy of one print of every film nominated for final balloting for all Academy Awards, and such print shall become the property of the Academy with the proviso, however, that the Academy shall not use such prints for commercial gain. Such prints shall be deposited with the Academy and, subject to matters not within its control, shall be screened by the Academy for the membership in advance of distribution of final ballots.” (Academy By-Laws, Article 8, Section 1, (f).) Unless notified to the contrary, the Academy will retain for its archives every print chosen as a nomination for final balloting on the Documentary Awards.
  11. Documentary short subjects entered for these Awards may also be submitted for Short Subjects Awards consideration, provided they qualify as short subject films. (Rules for Short Subjects Awards, however, differ in important respects. See paragraphs 1 and 2 of Short Subjects Entry Rules.) Feature length documentaries entered for these Awards are also eligible for the other awards for feature length pictures, providing they qualfiy [sic].
  12. Final voting for the Documentary Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members.

THIRTEEN

Special Rules for the Film Editing Award

  1. A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all members of the Academy Film Editors Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than ten productions.
  2. The ten productions receiving the greatest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all members of the Film Editors Branch an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
  3. Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions, shall be sent to all members of the Film Editors Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the greatest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Film Editing Award.
  4. Final voting for the Film Editing Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

FOURTEEN

Special Rules for the Foreign Language Film Award

  1. This Award (Academy statuette) will be given for the best feature length motion picture (more than 3,000 feet) produced by a foreign company with a non-English sound track, first released in the country of origin from November 1, 1964 to October 31, 1965, and shown in a commercial theatre for the profit of the producer and exhibitor. The picture need not have been released in the United States and English subtitles are not required. However, if a print with English subtitles is available, the Academy encourages the submission of such print. Prints will not be accepted with dialogue track other than in the original language. Whether the print shipped to us has English subtitles or not, a story synopsis of the picture, written in English, must be sent to the Academy. Titles and synopses in English with official entry blank must be in the Academy office no later than Monday, January 3, 1966.
  2. Every country shall be invited to submit its best film to the Academy. Selection of the best picture from each country shall be made by one group or organization, or by a jury or committee composed of representatives from several organizations in the country. Only one picture will be accepted from each country. The Academy cannot accept prints of pictures entered for the Award later than Sunday, January 16, 1966. However, prints should be shipped as early as possible.
  3. All foreign films sent to the Hollywood Academy will be screened by the Academy Foreign Language Film Award Committee. After the screenings, the committee will vote by secret ballot to nominate five foreign language pictures for this Award.
  4. The five nominated pictures will then be screened for all Academy members in Hollywood in the same manner as all other Academy nominated films. Final voting by secret ballot, to determine the Award for the Best Foreign Language Film of the year, shall be by the entire Academy membership.
  5. The Academy will provide entry blanks to the proper committee in each country so that the chosen contestant can supply full information on his picture. All questions on the blank should be answered as fully as possible and supplemented by any other cast, credit or fact sheet information available. To assist the Academy in the proper presentation of each film, it is requested that stills and biographies of the cast, producer, director, writers, etc., of the picture be included. Entries should be submitted as early as possible.
  6. A synopsis of the film written in English must be sent with each entry to facilitate Customs clearance.
  7. After the five foreign language film have been nominated, one representative of each producing company, to be designated by that company, will be invited to come to Hollywood for the Awards Presentation in April, 1966. The statuette will be awarded to the picture and not to any one individual.

FIFTEEN

Special Rules for the Music Awards

  1. All nominations balloting for the Scoring Awards and Best Song Award shall be restricted to members of the Academy Music Branch, but recognition of achievements shall not be limited to members of the Academy Music Branch.
  2. A meeting of the Academy Music Branch shall be held to pass on the eligibility of all productions and to classify achievements into two Awards categories: Best Music Score—substantially original, for which only the composer shall be eligible; and Best Scoring of Music—adaptation or treatment, for which only the adapter and/or music director shall be eligible.
Music Scoring Awards
  1. A reminder list of all productions eligible in each category shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all members of the Academy Music Branch who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more, but not more than ten productions in each category.
  2. The ten productions in each category receiving the highest number of votes on this preliminary ballot shall then be screened for the entire Music Branch to give them an opportunity to see the ten pictures in each category under the same conditions.
  3. After the screenings have been scheduled a nominations ballot, listing the ten productions in each category, shall be sent to all Music Branch members of the Academy who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions in each category receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Music Scoring Awards.
  4. If credits are incomplete on scores listed as eligible on the Official Screen Credits forms sent to the Academy, those scores shall be declared ineligible if, after the Academy office has contacted all possible sources, they are unable to obtain proper credits.
Best Song
  1. A song consists of music and lyrics. To be eligible for the Best Song Award, a song must be used vocally in the body of an eligible motion picture. The body of a picture shall be interpreted to include the main title and all dramatic action. The song must be sufficiently audible and intelligible, both lyrically and musically, to be identified as such. A visual rendition of the song is not essential. If the rendition is interrupted by dramatic action at any time, a significant portion of both lyric and melody must be heard clearly and intelligibly in the picture. The song must be recorded for use in the picture prior to any public performance in, or exploitation through, any of the following or similar media: radio, television, stage, night club, literary material, phonograph records or tapes, and publication in sheet music form available for purchase by the public.
  2. “Public performance” as used above is interpreted to mean any public performance for profit; public performance at a benefit where admission is charged; or public performance where admission is free, but open to the general public.
  3. Commercial recordings may be made only after the song is legally committed to the picture. Phonograph records, tapes, or any other form of mechanical or electronic reproduction of the song may not be released for sale to the public until after the song has been recorded for use in the picture.
  4. A song shall not be considered “used” in a picture if it is cut from that picture prior to the first regular commercial run of the film, even though it may have appeared at studio-arranged previews or trade showings. Such a song shall be eligible for an Award when used in another motion picture, provided it is not exploited in any other medium or publicly performed, as provided above, prior to its use in the second picture.
  5. If a song includes a substantial portion of lyric or music previously used in a motion picture, or exploited in any other medium so that the present use becomes what is known in the trade as an adaptation rather than a work original as to both music and lyric, or publicly performed as provided above, the song is not eligible for an Award.
  6. In the case of songs transferred from one language to another, when the lyric in the second language is properly an adaptation, the adapter does not share in the Award. Decision as to whether a second language lyric is an adaptation or an original work shall be made by the Executive Committee of the Music Branch under guidance from properly selected language experts. The decision of the Executive Committee of the Music Branch shall be final. When, however, the lyric in the second language is a totally new concept (a totally original lyric including a new title), then the second writer shall share the nomination and/or Award with the original writer or writers.
  7. A meeting of the Academy Music Branch shall be held to pass on the eligibility of the songs. After this meeting, a reminder list of all eligible achievements shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all members of the Academy Music Branch who shall vote for one or more, but not more than ten achievements in the order of their preference.
  8. The ten achievements receiving the highest number of votes on this preliminary ballot shall then be screened for the entire Music Branch to give them an opportunity to see the ten pictures in which the songs are used under the same conditions.
  9. After the screenings have been scheduled a nominations ballot, listing the ten songs, shall be sent to all Music Branch members of the Academy who shall vote for not more than five songs in the order of their preference. The five songs receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Best Song Award.
  10. If credits are incomplete on songs listed as eligible on the Official Screen Credits forms sent to the Academy, those songs shall be declared ineligible if, after the Academy office has contacted all possible sources, they are unable to obtain proper credits.
  11. The active Academy membership as a whole shall vote for final selection in each category: Best Music Score—substantially original, Best Scoring of Music—adaptation or treatment, and Best Song.

SIXTEEN

Special Rules for the Best Picture of the Year Award

  1. A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a nominations ballot to all active members of the Academy, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five Best Picture achievements.
  2. The five pictures receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Best Picture Award.
  3. Final voting for the Best Picture Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

SEVENTEEN

Special Rules for Awards for Scientific or Technical Achievement

  1. Academy Awards for Scientific or Technical Achievement shall be made by the Board of Governors, upon recommendation of the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee. Awards may be given for devices, methods, formulas, discoveries or inventions of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures, and employed in the motion picture industry during the Awards year.
  2. The Academy President shall annually appoint outstanding representatives of the motion picture and technical fields to serve on the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee.
  3. Awards for Scientific or Technical achievement may be granted in any of the three following classifications:

    CLASS I AWARD (Academy Statuette)
    For basic achievements which have a definite influence upon the advancement of the industry.

    CLASS II AWARD (Academy Plaque)
    For those achievements which exhibit a high level of engineering or technical merit and which are important contributions to the progress of the industry.

    CLASS III AWARD (Certificate)
    For those accomplishments which are valuable contributions to the progress of the industry.

  4. The committee shall endeavor to acquaint itself with all motion picture scientific or technical achievements of the Awards year. To assist the committee, letters shall be sent to individuals and organizations engaged in scientific or technical developments for motion pictures, requesting that they submit any information they may have regarding achievements which may have been developed in their own or any other organization.
  5. A list of all achievements being considered shall be widely publicized to permit anyone with claims of prior art or with devices similar to those under consideration to bring them to the attention of the committee.
  6. The committee shall then conduct a series of meetings and examinations, and when feasible shall arrange for such demonstrations as are necessary to properly evaluate the achievements and make recommendations for action by the Board of Governors.
  7. In evaluating the achievements, the committee shall seek to acquaint itself with all devices, methods, formulas, discoveries, or inventions similar to those being considered.
  8. Where achievements are covered by patents, the committee may request that copies of the patent be made available to them.
  9. Full claim for originality and development of each achievement must be established to the satisfaction of the committee. If any controversy should arise as to the origin or authorship of an achievement, the committee may request that the Academy Board of Governors postpone action until proper credit shall have been established.
  10. The committee shall appoint subcommittees for each technical classification in which there are achievements to be considered. Each subcommittee shall consist of one representative from each studio, and additional representatives as may be required. The Chairman of each subcommittee shall be one of the members of the subcommittee and shall conduct its demonstrations, meetings, and discussions.
  11. Each subcommittee shall consider all achievements in its field. The subcommittees shall not make recommendations as to awards classification on the achievements, but shall evaluate them by completing prepared questionnaires. These evaluations shall be forwarded to the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee.
  12. All voting by the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee shall be by secret written ballot. All decisions as to awards recommendations and classification shall require a two-thirds majority vote. Members of the committee having a personal connection with any achievement shall not be present during discussion of that achievement except by invitation of the Chairman. Members of the committee who do not have a personal connection with the achievement but who are affiliated with the organization responsible for the achievement may be present at the discussion and voting at the discretion of the Chairman, but may not vote on the achievement.
  13. The committee shall recommend to the Academy Board of Governors the person, persons and/or organization to whom an Award shall be made, and the type of Award.
  14. In recommending Awards, the committee will judge to the best of its ability the scientific or technical merits of the achievements, but does not warrant that the person or persons named are responsible for the origin or development of the achievement named in the Award.
  15. It shall be within the discretion of the committee to recommend no Awards if, in its judgment, there have been no achievements worthy of recognition.
  16. Such other rules as may be considered necessary for the proper conduct of this Award shall be adopted by the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee, subject to the approval of the Academy Board of Governors.

EIGHTEEN

Special Rules for the Short Subjects Awards

  1. Short Subjects eligible for these awards shall be limited to a maximum of 3,000 feet in length; shall have been made and distributed for the profit of the producer, distributor, and exhibitor, and must be distributed on the same basis by a recognized distributing organization to 35mm or 70mm theatres. In case of a question as to what constitutes a “recognized distributing organization” the decision of the Short Subjects Branch Executive Committee shall be final. To compete for these awards, short subjects must be released in Los Angeles County for a definite first paid play date of three consecutive days after an opening between January 1, 1965 and midnight, December 31, 1965. Newsreels, previews and films made for advertising purposes shall be excluded.
  2. The producer or distributor of any short subject must furnish proof of commitments for general distribution at the time the picture is submitted for awards consideration. Any picture disqualified under this rule will be accepted for the following year if it then qualifies.
  3. Nominations may be submitted in two classifications:
    1. Cartoons, of 3,000 feet or less, utilizing animation or other cartoon techniques as the basic medium of entertainment.
    2. Live action subjects, of 3,000 feet or less, utilizing live action techniques as the basic medium of entertainment.
  4. Eligibility and classification shall be determined at a special screening by a Preliminary Reviewing Committee, consisting of 15 percent of the Branch members, before the preliminary screenings are held. The vote of the Committee shall decide these questions; but the Committee may, at its discretion, request that a special showing be held for the full Branch. In this case, a majority vote of Branch members who attend the screening shall be decisive. The Preliminary Reviewing Committee shall mark all entries 10, 8, 6 or 4 (10 Excellent; 8 Good; 6 Fair; 4 Poor), and any subjects which, in the tabulation, receive a score of 6 or less shall be declared ineligible.
  5. Short Subjects producers shall be permitted one entry from each series of shorts produced for regular release, i.e., if a studio has two or three series of cartoons, several series of live action shorts, then one short from each series may be presented for nominations balloting.
  6. Short Subjects entered for these awards may also be submitted for the Documentary Short Subjects Award, provided they qualify as documentary films. (Rules for Documentary Awards, however, differ in important respects. See paragraphs 1,4 and 5 of Documentary Awards Entry Rules.)
  7. Entry prints must be available for screening in Hollywood on dates to be specified.
  8. All entries, selected by the Preliminary Reviewing Committee, shall be screened by the Short Subjects Nominating Committee [see (a) below]. The running order of subjects in each classification shall be determined by lot. Cartoons and live action subjects shall alternate each year for first or second screening position.
    1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of all active members of the Academy Short Subjects Branch. The Point System of voting, i.e., 10, 8, 6, 4, is to be used at this Preliminary Screening.
    2. Nominatons [sic] for final balloting shall be not more than five in each category, but may be reduced to less than five by the procedure outlined in (c) below.
    3. If, in the tabulation of the nominations ballots, the subjects which place fifth and/or fourth on the list do not achieve an average score of 8.0, these subjects shall not be declared nominated and the nominations for final balloting may, by this method, be reduced to four or three in either category. If, however, the subject which places third on the list has an average score of less than 8.0 it shall be declared a nomination. The intent of this rule is to present at least three nominations for final balloting in both short subjects categories.
  9. In both prelminary [sic] and final voting, the excellence of the entries shall be judged on the basis of entertainment, originality and production quality, without regard to cost of production or subject matter.
  10. Final voting for both Short Subjects Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members.

NINETEEN

Special Rules for the Sound Award

  1. The Sound Award Committee shall survey the field of meritorious films and shall include those deemed worthy of awards consideration, after determining the organizations singly or collectively responsible for the sound. Films submitted by the Sound Award Committee must be screened by at least three members of the committee to eliminate sub-standard films. In addition, the director of each motion picture sound department shall be given the opportunity to submit one production for consideration for this award.
  2. The productions submitted in accordance with Paragraph 1 above shall then be screened for the Academy Sound Branch membership.
  3. All pictures shall be standard release prints and shall be judged on their dramatic and technical value.
  4. Before screening, the representatives of the pictures to be shown each evening may run portions of their pictures to determine fader settings for the screening. However, at the actual screening, the representative may make any adjustments he deems necessary but only during the first 1,000 ft. of dialogue. No further fader adjustments may then be made.
  5. After all productions have been screened, a nomination voting meeting shall be held, at which time a 1,000 ft. excerpt from each production shall be screened. The excerpts shall be shown in the same order of running as the full productions. To be eligible to vote, each member of the Branch must attend this final screening of excerpts.
  6. Following the screening of excerpts, a Nominations ballot, listing all productions under consideration shall be given to each member who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of his preference. The five productions receiving the greatest number of votes shall become the Nominations for final voting for the Sound Award.
  7. Such other rules as may be necessary for the proper conduct of this Award shall be adopted by the Sound Award Committee, subject to the approval of the Academy Board of Governors.
  8. Final voting for the Sound Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

TWENTY

Special Rules for the Sound Effects Award

  1. Achievements being considered for the Sound Effects Award shall be judged on their dramatic and imaginative contribution to motion pictures and the skill with which they were accomplished.
  2. The Sound Effects Award Committee shall consist of at least ten Sound Editor members of the Sound Branch and an equal number of other craft members of the Branch. This committee shall be charged with the responsibility of reviewing the sound effects achievements of the current Awards year and shall present a preliminary selection of such achievements to the Sound Branch for nominations voting if, in their opinion, there is a meritorious slate.
  3. Representatives of each production selected for consideration shall prepare excerpts for the Sound Effects Award Committee and shall provide a brief written description of the sound effects in each picture. The description shall also name the one person principally responsible for the sound effects. Copies of the descriptions shall be sent to the Sound Effects Award Committee in advance of a meeting at which the Preliminary voting will be conducted.
  4. At the Preliminary voting meeting, excerpts from each of the productions being considered shall be screened for the Committee. The order of screening shall be decided by lot before the meeting. After all excerpts have been screened, the Committee shall vote to determine whether the productions under consideration are of such calibre as to justify recommendation to the Sound Branch that a Sound Effects Award be given. A favorable decision shall require a two-thirds majority vote of those present.
  5. In the event of a favorable vote a Preliminary Ballot, listing all productions under consideration, shall be distributed to the Sound Effects Award Committee. Each member shall mark a 10, 8, 6 or 4 opposite each production listed. This point system shall represent a rating of Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor. In tabulating the ballots, those productions which receive an average point score of 8.0 or over shall be considered eligible for further consideration. If this procedure results in the selection of fewer than three pictures, the productions receiving the highest point averages below 8.0 shall be added to the list until three have been chosen.
  6. At a Nominations voting meeting, sound effects excerpts of 1,000 ft. or less of each picture selected by the procedure outlined in Paragraph 5 above shall be screened for the Sound Branch. To be eligible to vote, each member must attend this Nominations voting meeting.
  7. Following the screenings a Nominations ballot, listing all productions under consideration, shall be given to each member who shall vote for not more than two productions in the order of his preference. The two productions receiving the highest number of votes in the preferential tabulation process shall become the Nominations for final voting for the Sound Effects Award.
  8. Such other rules as may be necessary for the proper conduct of this award shall be adopted by the Sound Effects Award Committee, subject to the approval of the Academy Board of Governors.
  9. Final voting for the Sound Effects Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

TWENTY-ONE

Special Rules for the Special Visual Effects Award

  1. Achievements being considered for nomination for the Special Visual Effects Award shall be judged on the basis of:
    1. The necessity of the special visual effects employed to overcome economic infeasibility and/or physical impracticability.
    2. The skill and fidelity with which the illusion of reality and/or fantasy is achieved so that the effect mechanisms or methods are not apparent in the final results.
    3. Selection of the effects achievements which contribute the most to the overall production.
  2. The Academy President shall annually appoint outstanding visual effects technicians and qualified art directors and cinematographers to serve on the Special Visual Effects Award Nominating Committee. This committee shall be charged with the responsibility of nominating two productions representing, in their judgment, the best special visual effects work of the year.
  3. Entries for this award may be made in one or more of the following visual effects categories: Full-Sized Mechanical, Matte Paintings, Miniatures, Optical, Transparency Projection Process and Animation. However, animation may only be considered under the following conditions: (a) two dimensional animation (cartoon or painting) is eligible only when used as an adjunct to, and included in, live action scenes; (b) three dimensional animation is eligible only if its purpose is to achieve a result sufficiently realistic to be accepted as though it were not stop-motion and it must relate to live action scenes or sequences only. Motion pictures or sequences that are principally cartoons or three dimensional animation are not eligible for this award.
  4. Representatives of each production under consideration shall prepare excerpts and provide a brief written description of the special visual effects in the picture. The description shall indicate which of the effects categories are being submitted and shall name the one person principally responsible and directly involved in the supervision and execution of the effect in each category. Categories retained through committee balloting will thus automatically indicate who shall receive the award, or awards, when the winning picture is selected by the final vote of the full Academy membership. Copies of the descriptions of the special visual effects will be made available to the committee in advance of a meeting at which the Nominations voting will be conducted.
  5. When all entries have been received, the Special Visual Effects Award Nominating Committee may be expanded, if necessary, to insure representation from each special visual effects department concerned. Any member of the committee who is unable to attend may send a technically qualified substitute.
  6. At the Nominations voting meeting, excerpts from each of the productions entered for consideration shall be screened. The committee shall be provided with forms on which to make notes. The order of screening shall be determined by lot before the meeting.
  7. After all the excerpts have been run, the committee may, by vote of a two-thirds majority, request a second screening to be held within one week. If no second screening is voted, balloting will be conducted at the first meeting.
  8. After all the excerpts have been run to the satisfaction of the committee, the voting will be conducted in two steps:
    1. Ballots for each of the productions under consideration, listing all the categories in which the pictures have been entered, shall be distributed to the committee. Each member shall mark a 10, 8, 6 or 4 opposite each of the effects listed. This point system shall represent a rating of Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor. The ballots for each production shall be tabulated separately. In the tabulation, those categories which receive an average point score of 8.0 or more shall be considered eligible for further consideration. If this results in the selection of more than three categories, only the three with the highest point scores will be eligible. If no category attains the 8.0 average point score, the one category receiving the highest point score below 8.0 will be declared eligible. If a picture is entered in only one category, no category balloting will be necessary and it will be automatically eligible.
    2. After the committee has been apprised of the results of the category balloting, Nominations ballots shall be distributed and each member shall vote for five productions in the order of his preference. The two productions receiving the highest number of votes in the preferential tabulation process shall become the Nominations for the Special Visual Effects Award.
  9. Such other rules as may be considered necessary for the proper conduct of this Award shall be adopted by the Special Visual Effects Award Nominating Committee subject to the approval of the Academy Board of Governors.
  10. Final voting for the Special Visual Effects Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

TWENTY-TWO

Special Rules for the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

  1. Verbal nominations for the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award shall be made from the floor at a meeting of the Board of Governors called for this purpose. Consideration for this Award shall be limited to creative producers whose records reflect a consistent high quality of motion picture production.
  2. When the nominations are completed, a written secret ballot shall be taken and if one candidate receives a majority vote of the Governors present, he shall receive the Thalberg Award.
  3. If, on the first ballot, no candidate receives a majority vote of the Governors present, a second ballot shall be distributed, listing the two candidates who received the highest number of votes on the first ballot. If a tie for second place occurs on the first ballot, the second ballot shall list three names.
  4. If one of the candidates on the second ballot receives the majority vote of the Governors present at the meeting, he shall be declared the winner of the Thalberg Award. However, if the second ballot should result in a tie for first place, a third and final ballot shall be taken on the two names tied for first place.
  5. If no candidate receives the majority vote of the Governors present on the second or third ballot, no Thalberg Award shall be given that year.
  6. No proxies shall be permitted in balloting for the Thalberg Award.
  7. No individual shall be eligible to receive the Thalberg Award more than once.

TWENTY-THREE

Special Rules for the Writing Awards

  1. A reminder list of all pictures eligible in each category: Best Screenplay—based on material from another medium, and Best Story and Screenplay—written directly for the screen, shall be sent with nominations ballots to all members of the Academy Writers Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five writing achievements in each category.
  2. The five writing achievements in each category receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Writing Awards.
  3. In the event that two achievements by a writing team or writer without collaborator shall receive sufficient votes to be nominated in the same category, only the one which, in the preferential tabulation process, first receives the quota (number of votes required to be nominated) shall be nominated. The votes for the second achievement shall thereupon be redistributed.
  4. Final voting for the Writing Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members.

BALLOTING INFORMATION CHART
Thirty-eighth Annual Awards - 1965 Calendar Year
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

AWARDNOMINATIONS BALLOTINGFINAL
BALLOTING
MAXIMUM
NUMBER OF
NOMINATIONS
NOMINATING GROUPS
ACTOR
ACTRESS
SUPPORTING ACTOR
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
5
5
5
5
Academy Actors Branch Members. Final Balloting by Active Academy Membership
ART DIRECTION:
  BLACK-AND-WHITE
  COLOR

5
5
Preliminary Balloting by Art Director and Set Decorator members of the Academy Art Directors Branch.
Nominations Balloting by all members of the Academy Art Directors Branch.
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
  BLACK-AND-WHITE
  COLOR

5
5
Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Academy Cinematographers Branch Members.
COSTUME DESIGN:
  BLACK-AND-WHITE
  COLOR

5
5
Preliminary Balloting by Costume Designer Members of the Art Directors Branch.
Nominations Balloting by all members of the Academy Art Directors Branch.
DIRECTING 5 Academy Directors Branch Members.
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS:
  Features,
    more than 3,000 feet
  Short Subjects,
    3,000 feet or less


5

5
Documentary Awards Committee.
FILM EDITING 5 Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Academy Film Editors Branch Members.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
  FILM AWARD

5
Foreign Language Film Award Nominating Committee.
MUSIC:
  MUSIC SCORE—
    substantially original
  SCORING OF MUSIC—
    adaptation or treatment
  BEST SONG


5

5
5
Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Academy Music Branch Members.
BEST PICTURE 5 All Active Academy Members.
SHORT SUBJECTS:
  CARTOONS,
    3,000 feet or less
  LIVE ACTION SUBJECTS,
    3,000 feet or less


5


5
Academy Short Subjects Branch.
SOUND 5 Academy Sound Branch Members.
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS 2 Special Visual Effects Award Nominating Committee.
WRITING:
  SCREENPLAY—based on
  material from another
  medium
  STORY AND SCREENPLAY—
  written directly for the
  screen



5


5
Academy Writers Branch Members.

OTHER AWARDS:
SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARDSVoted by Board of Governors, Based on Recommendations of Special Committee.
SOUND EFFECTS AWARDPreliminary Balloting by Sound Effects Award Committee. Nominations Balloting by Sound Branch Members. Final balloting by Active Academy membership.
JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARDVoted by Board of Governors.
THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARDVoted by Board of Governors.

HONORARY AWARDS:
HONORARY AWARDSVoted by Board of Governors.