1976 (49th) Voting Rules Book cover


1976 (49th 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 1976 (49th) 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).

49th Annual
Academy Awards of Merit
FOR ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 1976



VOTING RULES

One

THE AWARDS YEAR

  1. Academy Awards of Merit shall be bestowed for achievements in connection with motion pictures which for the first time are publicly exhibited by means of 35mm film or larger for paid admission (previews excluded) in a commercial motion picture theater in the Los Angeles area, defined as Los Angeles, West Los Angeles or Beverly Hills, (though they may have been exhibited elsewhere previously) between January 1, 1976 and midnight of December 31, 1976, 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.
  2. Exceptions to this rule appear in Special Rules for Documentary Awards (see Rule Twelve), Best Foreign Language Film Award (see Rule Fourteen), Music Awards (see Rule Fifteen) and Short Films Awards (see Rule Eighteen).
  3. Films exhibited in a subscription series presentation in the Los Angeles area (as defined above), but which run less than seven consecutive days, will not be excluded from eligibility for awards consideration in the year such films meet the exhibition requirements in paragraph 1 and otherwise qualify.
  4. Pictures which qualify under paragraph 1, but which have also been exhibited in another medium are excluded from awards eligibility unless their exhibition in another medium has occurred in a country other than the United States.

Two

THE ANNUAL AWARDS

Except in instances in which the producer is unable 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 in a leading role.
For the best performance by an actor in a supporting role.
For the best performance by an actress in a leading role.
For the best performance by an actress in a supporting role.
ART DIRECTION: For the best achievement in art direction.
(The Academy Statuette shall be given also to the set decorators on the picture which wins the Art Direction Award.)
CINEMATOGRAPHY: For the best achievement in cinematography.
COSTUME DESIGN: For the best achievement in costume design.
DIRECTING: For the best achievement in directing.
DOCUMENTARY: For the best achievement in each of two classifications:
(a) Documentary features.
(b) Documentary short subjects.
FILM EDITING: For the best achievement in film editing.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: For the best foreign language film of the year.
MUSIC: For the outstanding achievements in music in connection with motion pictures:
Best original score.
{ Best original song score and its adaptation.
{     OR
{ Best adaptation score.
Best original song.
BEST PICTURE: For the best motion picture of the year.
SHORT FILMS: For the best achievement in each of two classifications:
(a) Animated films.
(b) Live action films.
SOUND: For the best achievement in sound.
WRITING: For the best achievement in each of two classifications:
Best screenplay written directly for the screen—based on factual material or on story material not previously published or produced.
Best screenplay—based on material from another medium.

Three

OTHER AWARDS

(Not necessarily given each year)

  1. SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT: 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 to the progress of the industry; the Class III Award (Academy Citation) for those accomplishments which are valuable contributions to the progress of the industry (see Rule Seventeen).
  2. SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS (Statuette): Shall be given at such times as in the judgment of the Board of Governors there is an achievement which makes an exceptional contribution to the motion picture for which it was created, but for which there is no annual award category. Such awards shall only be conferred, however, for achievements in productions which also qualify under Rule One.
  3. IRVING G. THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARD (Thalberg Head): Shall be given at such times as in the judgment of the Board of Governors there is a deserving recipient, but not necessarily each year. It shall be given to a creative producer whose body of work reflects a consistently high quality of motion picture production. No one shall be eligible to receive the Thalberg Award more than once (see Rule Twenty).
  4. JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD (Statuette): Shall be given at such times as in the judgment of the Board of Governors 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 exceptionally 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.
  3. Honorary Awards shall be in such form as the 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, for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and for Special Achievement Awards. 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 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. Ballots shall be opened and counted by a firm of certified public accountants designated by the Academy President.
  4. Awards shall be conferred at an Awards Presentation ceremony.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Subject to special rules approved by the Board of Governors, eligibility for consideration for Academy Awards shall be limited to motion pictures which have been exhibited by means of 35mm film or larger and for which full, complete and authentic credits have been received by the Academy from the producer or distributor, unless such limitations are waived by the Board of Governors or its Awards Committee.
  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. Motion pictures from all countries shall be eligible for consideration for the awards listed under Rule Two if the requirements of Rules One, Two, Five and Six are met, but foreign language films must have English subtitles.
  10. The alteration of an achievement by changing a picture from the version shown in the Los Angeles area, upon which eligibility is based, shall subject such achievement to the risk of being declared ineligible by the Board of Governors.

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 to the Board of Governors for approval before putting them into operation.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. In the event of any dispute concerning credits, the Academy reserves the right to declare any achievement ineligible or, alternatively, to reject all claims to credit, list credits as being in controversy and withhold any award until the dispute is resolved.
  7. In the event a nominated achievement or a preliminary selection is declared ineligible by the Academy, it shall be replaced by the achievement or selection which received the next highest number of votes in the nominations balloting or in the balloting for the preliminary selections, as the case may be, if time reasonably permits such substitution.

Seven

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE ACTING AWARDS

  1. Reminder lists including the casts of all eligible pictures shall be sent with 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 in a Leading Role, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, 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. A performance by an actor or actress in any role shall be eligible for nomination either for the Best Performance in a Leading Role or for the Best Performance in a Supporting Role. If, however, all the dialogue has been dubbed by another actor, the performance shall not be eligible for awards consideration. Singing which is dubbed will not affect the performer’s eligibility unless it constitutes the entire performance. The determination as to whether a role is a lead or support shall be made individually by members of the branch at the time of balloting.
  4. The leading role and supporting role categories will be tabulated simultaneously. If any performance should receive votes in both categories, the achievement shall only be placed on the ballot in that category in which, during the tabulation process, it first received the required number of votes to be nominated. In the event that the performance receives the number of votes required to be nominated in both categories simultaneously, the achievement shall only be placed on the ballot in that category in which it received the greater percentage of the total votes.
  5. In the event that two achievements by an actor or actress receive sufficient votes to be nominated in the same category, only one shall be nominated using the preferential tabulation process and such other allied procedures as may be necessary to achieve that result.
  6. In the event that an actor or actress receives a sufficient number of votes to be nominated for one achievement in one category and for another achievement in the other category, both achievements shall be eligible.
  7. Final voting for the Acting Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Eight

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE ART DIRECTION AWARD

  1. A reminder list of all eligible 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 highest 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 except costume designers, who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Art Direction Award.
  4. Final voting for the Art Direction Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.
Set Decoration
  1. Recognition in the form of Academy Statuettes shall be given to the set decorators of the production which receives an award for achievement in art direction.

Nine

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD

  1. A reminder list of all eligible 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 highest 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 highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Cinematography Award.
  4. In the event that two achievements by a cinematographer or team of cinematographers receive sufficient votes to be nominated, only one shall be nominated using the preferential tabulation process.
  5. Final voting for the Cinematography Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Ten

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE COSTUME DESIGN AWARD

  1. A reminder list of all eligible 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. To be eligible for the Costume Design Award, the principal costumes must have been created specifically for the picture by the costume designer.
  2. The ten productions receiving the highest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give the costume designers an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
  3. Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to the costume designer 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 highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Costume Design Award.
  4. Final voting for the Costume Design Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

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. 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, photographed in actual occurrence, re-enacted or produced in animation, stop-motion or any other technique and where the emphasis is on factual content. 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 of more than 3,000 35mm feet, or the equivalents in 16mm or 7Omm.
    2. Documentary short subjects—films of no more than 3,000 35mm feet, or the equivalents in 16mm or 70mm.
  3. Only one entry in each classification will be accepted from each producer.
  4. Producer credit for these awards shall be limited to the person or persons responsible for the creative production of the picture. Executive producer’s, or other contributors, cannot share nominations or awards credit for documentaries. If there is a discrepancy between the creator listed on the entry blank and the name on the film title frame, the Academy will insist that credit for the nomination and/or award be settled by the submitting organization before the entry is screened for nominations balloting.
  5. To be eligible, a documentary film must have been exhibited for the first time between January 1, 1976 and December 31, 1976 by having been projected in any auditorium, theater or other room (not necessarily in the Los Angeles area) in which there was assembled an audience for which the subject was made. Screening before a film festival or exposition audience, whether competitive or not, shall also constitute exhibition within the scope of this regulation. Pictures which have also been exhibited in any other medium but which qualify under the above rule are not to be excluded from eligibility, provided the first exhibition in that medium has occurred during the same awards year.
  6. 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. Films produced in 16mm, however, may be submitted without enlargement provided they have been honored by acceptance for exhibition at a recognized, non-competitive, international film festival; or, in the case of a similarly recognized competitive international festival, if they have received a best-in-category award. Such recognition must occur in the same awards year in which the film is submitted for Academy Documentary Awards consideration.
  7. The term “recognized”, as applied to international film festivals, is defined as the list of festivals officially recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
  8. The winning documentary entries in the Academy’s Annual Student Film Award competition will also be eligible providing they qualify within the specifications listed above.
  9. All entries submitted must include a written description in English of the subject. The entry blank and synopsis should be submitted as soon as possible. Positively no entries will be accepted after December 31, 1976.
  10. Prints should be shipped prepaid to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California 90211. Those not chosen as nominations for final balloting by the active Academy membership will be returned prepaid to the sender. All prints submitted must remain with the Academy for screening until the presentation of the awards in March, 1977.
  11. The Documentary Awards Committee will view all films entered and will then vote to nominate not more than five nor less than three in each category. The committee’s selections will then become the nominations. The nominated pictures in each category shall be screened for the active Academy membership, whose balloting will determine the awards in both categories.
  12. “Except in instances in which the producer is unable 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 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 Bylaws, 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.
  13. A Documentary Short Subject may qualify for Short Films Awards consideration, the rules for which differ in important respects. The entry may compete in either category, but not in both. The choice of category must be designated by the producer at the time the entry is submitted for awards consideration. Feature length documentaries entered for these awards are also eligible for the other awards for feature length pictures, provided they qualify.
  14. Final voting for the Documentary Feature Award and Documentary Short Subjects Award shall be restricted to active Academy members who will have attended Academy screenings, or other exhibition, of all nominated achievements in each Documentary Award classification.

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 highest 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 highest 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 BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM AWARD

  1. This award (Academy Statuette) will be given for the best feature length motion picture produced with a basically non-English sound track, first released in the country of origin between November 1, 1975 and October 31, 1976, and shown in a commercial theater for the profit of the producer and exhibitor. The picture need not have been released in the United States. The print submitted for award consideration must be identical in form with the version released in the country of origin. Dialogue track must be in the original language and English subtitles are required. If the eligibility of any entry is questioned, the Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee shall make a determination.
  2. Films submitted for Best Foreign Language Film Award consideration may also qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, but not the Best Picture of the Year Award, provided they meet the requirements of the special rules governing those other categories. Such films must be publicly exhibited by means of 35mm film or larger for paid admission (previews excluded) in a commercial motion picture theater in the Los Angeles area (defined as Los Angeles, West Los Angeles or Beverly Hills) between January 1, 1976 and midnight of December 31, 1976, for a consecutive run of not less than a week after an opening prior to midnight of December 31st. Films submitted for 1976 Best Foreign Language Film Award consideration shall not be eligible for Academy Award consideration in any category in any subsequent awards year.
  3. 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.
  4. Prints should be shipped as early as possible as the Academy cannot accept pictures later than Thursday, December 23, 1976 for award consideration. A synopsis in English must be received in the Academy office with the official entry blank no later than Monday, November 15, 1976.
  5. The Academy will provide entry blanks to the proper committee in each country so that the producer of the film selected can supply full information on his picture. All questions on the blank should be answered as fully as possible and should be supplemented by any other cast, credit or fact sheets available.
  6. All foreign films sent to the 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. One representative of each picture nominated will be invited to attend the Academy Awards Presentation on March 28, 1977. The statuette will be awarded to the picture and not to any one individual.
  7. Final voting for the Foreign Language Film Award shall be restricted to active Academy members who have attended Academy screenings, or other exhibition, of all five films nominated for the award.

Fifteen

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE MUSIC AWARDS

General Music Rules
  1. For an achievement to be considered for possible nomination in one of the three Music Awards categories, an Official Submission Form, obtained from the Academy, must be submitted by the creator(s) of that achievement. Any member of the Music Branch may recommend a work by anyone other than himself for submission. If such recommendation is made, the creator will be so notified and informed that he must request the Official Submission Form from the Academy if he wishes to submit the work. The creator need not be an Academy member. The work submitted must appear in an eligible feature film (see Paragraph 1 of Rule One).

    Although works may be submitted any time during the year, it is strongly urged they be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than December 10 after which no submissions will be accepted. However, the Executive Committee reserves to itself the right, but not the obligation, to submit a candidate after December 10.

  2. All Submission Forms submitted by the creator(s) must be accompanied by a copy of the music cue sheet. In the category of Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation, lead sheets or “piano parts” for all the songs must accompany the submission. In the Best Adaptation Score category, a complete musical bibliography of the material adapted (e.g., sheet music, records, other germane material, and/or a detailed list of standard source material) must accompany the submission. In the Best Original Song category, a lead sheet or “piano part” must accompany each song submitted.
  3. To Qualify:
    1. The work submitted must be specifically created for the eligible film.
    2. The work must be submitted on the Official Submission Form which will require the creator(s) to certify that, in his view, the work is an outstanding achievement worthy of consideration for nomination for an Academy Award. Its contribution must be of sufficient import that its absence would clearly and substantially lessen the dramatic or theatrical thrust of the film as a whole. The measure of its qualification shall be the degree of its effectiveness, craftsmanship and importance in relation to the dramatic whole. A factor in determining this effectiveness and importance shall be the relevance to the film of a work’s duration, style and texture.
    3. The work submitted must have been recorded for use in the sound track of the eligible film prior to any other recording with the following specific exceptions:
      1. Temporary track for demonstration or production purposes.
      2. Artist rehearsal.
      3. Score audition.
      4. Any legitimate technical need of the production.
    4. The work submitted must be recorded for use in the film prior to any public performance in, or exploitation through, any of the following or similar media: radio, television, stage, night clubs, literary material, phonograph records, tapes, and publication in sheet music form available for purchase by the public. “Public performance” is interpreted to mean any public performance for profit; public performance at a benefit where admission is charged; public performance where admission is free but open to the general public; or non-profit radio or television programs such as Voice of America, Armed Forces Radio Service and the like.
  4. All works submitted for awards consideration are subject to review by the Music Branch which will screen the films throughout the year to consider qualification for possible nomination. If the qualification of any work is challenged by any member of the Music Branch, the challenge must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee of the Music Branch, must cite the rule(s) upon which the challenge is based, and must be signed. If a challenge is based upon failure to meet artistic qualitative requirements of these rules, the Music Branch shall make final determination. Challenges based upon failure to meet technical or classification requirements shall be resolved by the Executive Committee.
  5. A list of all scores and songs determined by the Music Branch to be qualified for possible nomination for Music Awards based upon considerations contained in the Rules for the 49th Annual Academy Awards shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all Academy Music Branch members who shall vote in the order of their preference for one or more but not more than ten selections in each category. If there are less than twenty achievements so qualified in any category, balloting shall be limited to no more than seven preliminary selections and no more than three nominations. The ten (or seven) selections in each category receiving the highest number of votes on this preliminary ballot shall again be screened for the entire Music Branch.
  6. Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten (or seven) selections in each category shall be sent to all Music Branch members who shall vote for not more than five (or three) selections in the order of their preference. The five (or three) selections in each category receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for Music Awards.
  7. The entire active Academy membership shall vote for final selections in each category: (I) Best Original Score; (II) Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score; (III) Best Original Song.
Category I—Best Original Score
  1. An Original Score is a body of music originating with the submitting composer specifically created to accompany or “underscore” the feature motion picture for which eligibility is claimed. A substantive amount of the principal thematic and connective material therein must be original with the composer(s).
  2. The evaluation of an Original Score’s qualification for possible nomination will be made on the basis of its service to the whole as an integral part of the total theatrical entity. Its contribution must be of sufficient import that its absence would clearly and substantially lessen the dramatic or theatrical thrust of the film as a whole. The measure of its qualification shall be the degree of its effectiveness, craftsmanship and importance in relation to the dramatic whole. A factor in determining this effectiveness and importance shall be the relevance to the film of a score’s duration, style and texture.
  3. In the case of an Original Score not conventionally committed to paper by the submitting composer(s), the Music Branch will recognize as film composers those who perform their compositions on an instrument, or who direct other instrumentalists (and/or vocalists) in the performance thereof in the precise form in which the music is heard on the sound track of the release print of the film in which qualification is claimed. In the absence of established knowledge of a composer’s abilities as above set forth, it will be assumed that such a composer had co-composing collaboration. In such cases, a solo composing screen credit will not be accepted by the Music Branch as a qualification for Academy Award consideration in the Original Score category. When this occurs, the composer will be given the opportunity of designating the co-composing collaborator(s) for Academy Award purposes. Failing to supply the Academy with such collaborative name(s), the composer will automatically render his score ineligible.
Category II—Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation

                            OR

                     Best Adaptation Score
  1. An Original Song Score is defined as a work consisting primarily of a body of not less than five original songs by the same writer or by the same identical team of writers specifically created for the film in which eligibility is claimed, used either as voice-overs on the sound track or visually performed. Each of at least five of these songs must be substantively rendered, must be clearly audible and intelligible both lyrically and musically, and must individually satisfy all the eligibility prerequisites listed in Paragraph 3. To qualify for awards consideration in this category, the Song Score’s chief emphasis must be the utilization of these five or more songs. The arrangement and orchestration, as such, of musical material shall not be considered a valid Adaptation of the Song Score. To be eligible, the Adaptation of the Song Score must exhibit creativity by expansion, contraction, reharmonization, or other alterations in accommodating the material to the unique and specific demands of the motion picture. The nature of the Original Song Score’s contribution must be of sufficient theatrical import so that its absence would substantially lessen the dramatic thrust of the film as a whole.
  2. An Adaptation Score is defined as a work consisting primarily of thematic and connective musical material derived either from musical material specifically created for the eligible film (not original with the adapter) or from pre-existing musical material. To qualify for awards consideration, the Adaptation must be something other than a restatement of selected sections in their original form and must include creativity (by expansion, contraction, reharmonization, or other alterations) in accommodating the material to the unique and specific demands of the motion picture. The mere selection, editing and use of material in its already existing form shall not be considered a valid Adaptation; nor shall the arrangement and orchestration, as such, of musical material be considered a valid Adaptation. The Adaptation must make a contribution to the dramatic thrust of the film as a whole and satisfy all artistic criteria established in Paragraph 3 (b). In cases where a score does not qualify for eligibility as an Original Score due to the substantive use of non-original music as principal thematic and connective material, but which score is determined not to be an Adaptation upon application of the above definition and criteria, the score will be ruled ineligible by the Executive Committee. No film score shall be eligible in more than one category.
  3. When a score includes, as principal thematic material, an original song specifically written for the eligible picture by writers other than the composer of the score, the song shall be eligible in the Best Original Song category, but the score shall be eligible only in the Best Adaptation Score category.
Category III—Best Original Song
  1. An Original Song consists of original words and music specifically created for the feature motion picture for which eligibility is claimed. There must be a substantive rendition (not necessarily visual) of both lyrics and melody in the body of the film. The melody must be clearly audible and the lyrics clearly intelligible. The body of a film shall be interpreted to include the main title (irrespective of where in the film said main title occurs) and all dramatic action. If a song is performed over the end credits only, it shall qualify if such usage constitutes a dramatically relevant postlude to the film. A song must be related to the total theatrical entity and must serve the dramatic, emotional or atmospheric mood. Failing such dramatic or theatrical integration with the film, the song will not be considered an achievement in connection with motion pictures. Its form or idiom shall not be determining factors. The measure of its qualification shall be the degree of its effectiveness, craftsmanship and importance in relation to the dramatic whole.

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 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 to the progress of the industry.

    CLASS III AWARD (Academy Citation)
    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 evaluate the achievements properly 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 may 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 FILMS AWARDS

  1. Short films eligible for these awards shall be limited to a maximum of 3,000 35mm feet in length or the equivalents in 16mm or 70mm. To compete for these awards, films must be exhibited within two years of completion date in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County for a paid play date of seven consecutive days after an opening between January 1, 1976 and midnight, December 31, 1976. Newsreels, previews and advertising films shall be excluded.
  2. These awards shall be limited to the producer or other person(s) directly responsible for the creative production of the picture. If there is a discrepancy between the creator(s) listed on the entry blank and the name(s) on the film titles, the Academy will insist that credit for the nomination and/or award be settled before the entry is screened for nominations balloting. Failing the settlement of any controversy, the film may be declared ineligible for Academy Award consideration.
  3. An award shall be given for the best achievement in each of two classifications:
    1. Animated films of no more than 3,000 35mm feet, or the equivalents in 16mm or 7Omm, utilizing animation as the basic medium of entertainment.
    2. Live action films of no more than 3,000 35mm feet, or the equivalents in 16mm or 7Omm, 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 no less than 15 percent of the branch members. 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 receiving a score of less than 7.0 in the tabulation shall be declared ineligible.
  5. Producers shall be permitted one entry in either or both classifications, or one entry from each series of films produced for regular release; i.e., if a studio has two or three series of cartoons and several series of live action films, then one entry from each series may be presented for award consideration.
  6. Films which also qualify as Documentary Short Subjects may compete in the Short Films Awards category (Live Action and Animation) or for the Documentary Short Subjects Award, but not both, and must not have received previous award consideration. The choice of category must be designated by the producer at the time the entry is submitted.
  7. Entry prints must be available for screening at the Academy on dates to be specified.
  8. All entries selected by the Preliminary Reviewing Committee shall be screened by the Branch Nominating Committee [see (a) below]. The running order of subjects in each classification shall be determined by lot.
    1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of all active members of the Academy Short Films Branch. The point system of voting, i.e., 10, 8, 6, 4, is to be used at this screening to select the nominations.
    2. Nominations 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 do not achieve an average score of 7.5, 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 7.5, it shall be declared a nomination. The intent of this rule is to present at least three nominations for final balloting in both Short Films classifications.
  9. Final voting for the Short Films Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members who may vote only at a special screening of the nominated achievements for one subject in each of the two classifications.
  10. In both preliminary and final voting, the excellence of the entries shall be judged on the basis of originality, entertainment and production quality without regard to cost of production or subject matter.

Nineteen

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE SOUND AWARD

  1. A reminder list of all eligible pictures shall be sent with a preliminary ballot to all members of the Academy Sound 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 highest number of votes from this preliminary balloting shall then be screened to give all Sound Branch members an opportunity to see them under the same conditions.
  3. The Theater Sound Inspection Committee shall inspect and approve the projection sound system of the Academy’s theater at least four weeks before the preliminary Sound Award screenings and no further changes may be made after that final approval. Submitted samples will be screened during this meeting to aid in the final approval. Any entry that deviates from the normal sound system of the Academy’s theater, or requires modification of the sound system, must be approved by a majority of the Theater Sound Inspection Committee before the time of the final check of the sound system. Such entry must be capable of nationwide release. Notification of such deviation or modification must be submitted to the Academy at least three weeks before the scheduled meeting of the Theater Sound Inspection Committee. However, any composite release print that plays on the normal projection sound system of the Academy’s theater without modification does not have to be approved by the Theater Sound Inspection Committee.
  4. Before screening, representatives of the pictures to be shown each evening may run portions of their pictures to determine fader settings for the screenings. However, at the actual screenings, representatives may make any adjustments they deem necessary, but only during the first 1,000 feet of dialogue. No further fader adjustments may then be made.
  5. Following the screenings, a nominations ballot listing the ten productions shall be sent to all members of the Sound Branch who shall vote for not more than five productions in the order of their preference. The five productions receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Sound Award.
  6. The talents of the rerecording mixers on a panel (not to exceed three) and the production mixer will be judged as contributing equally to a sound track achievement. The producer and/or sound director will designate the eligibility of co-rerecording mixing collaborators and the production mixer for Academy Award purposes. In the event an additional rerecording mixer is used, the sound director will designate the three-man rerecording mixing staff.
  7. Final voting for the Sound Award shall be restricted to active Academy members.

Twenty

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 body of work reflects a consistently 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-one

SPECIAL RULES FOR THE WRITING AWARDS

  1. An award shall be given for the best achievement in each of two categories:

    Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen—based on factual material or on story material not previously published or produced

    Best Screenplay—based on material from another medium

  2. A reminder list of all pictures eligible in each category 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.
  3. The five writing achievements in each category receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Writing Awards.
  4. In the event that two achievements by a writing team or writer without collaborator receive sufficient votes to be nominated in the same category, only one shall be nominated using the preferential tabulation process and such other allied procedures as may be necessary to achieve that result.
  5. Final voting for the Writing Awards shall be restricted to active Academy members.

BALLOTING INFORMATION CHART
49th Annual Awards - 1976 Calendar Year
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

AWARDNOMINATIONS BALLOTINGFINAL
BALLOTING
MAXIMUM
NUMBER OF
NOMINATIONS
NOMINATING GROUPS
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
5
5
5
5
Academy Actors Branch Members. Final Balloting by Active Academy Membership
ART DIRECTION 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 except Costume Designers.
CINEMATOGRAPHY 5 Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Academy Cinematographers Branch Members.
COSTUME DESIGN 5 Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Costume Designer Members of the Art Directors Branch.
DIRECTING 5 Academy Directors Branch Members.
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS:
  FEATURES
  SHORT SUBJECTS

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

5
Foreign Language Film Award Nominating Committee.
MUSIC:
  BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
  {BEST ORIGINAL SONG
  {  SCORE AND ITS
  {  ADAPTATION
  {     OR
  {BEST ADAPTATION
  {  SCORE
  BEST ORIGINAL SONG

5





5
5
Academy Music Branch Members.
BEST PICTURE 5 All Active Academy Members.
SHORT FILMS:
  ANIMATED FILMS
  LIVE ACTION FILMS

5
5
Academy Short Films Branch Members.
SOUND 5 Preliminary and Nominations Balloting by Academy Sound Branch Members.
WRITING:
  BEST SCREENPLAY WRITTEN
    DIRECTLY FOR THE SCREEN—
    based on factual material or
    on story material not
    previously published or
    produced
  BEST SCREENPLAY—based on
    material from another
    medium






5


5
Academy Writers Branch Members.

OTHER AWARDS:
SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARDSVoted by Board of Governors, based on recommendations of the Scientific or Technical Awards Committee.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDSVoted by Board of Governors.
THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARDVoted by Board of Governors.
JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARDVoted by Board of Governors.

HONORARY AWARDS:
HONORARY AWARDSVoted by Board of Governors.