No Academy Awards ceremony goes by without disputes. Every year, the event is followed by a constant chatter on shocking snubs and overlooked performances. From the foreign-language film category to the acting races, the nominations are fiercely debated on social media, and sometimes even the voters and their judgment get dragged through the mud. But who exactly are the voters making the picks?

Disputed or well-deserved, here is a look at how the Academy’s voting system works and who ultimately decides who walks away with the honor.

All the categories, including films and acting awards, are voted on by the governing body of the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy is made up of members from across the film industry, including actors, writers, directors, costume designers, producers, technicians, hairstylists, and many other professionals. Each year, the Academy reportedly continues to expand its membership.

Members are eligible to vote within their own branch when it comes to nominations. In simple words, actors nominate performers in the acting categories. So, Michael B. Jordan, who is nominated for the best actor category, was likely selected from the actors’ branch.

However, when it comes to selecting the winners, all Academy members are allowed to vote in every category. The one with the most votes wins the honor. And for this process, there are thousands of members voting for the Oscars.

However, becoming part of the Academy is not easy. To qualify, a person must be sponsored by two existing members from the same branch. One of the most common ways to become a member is earning an Oscar nomination.

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With that in mind, it becomes a little clearer who may be responsible for a debatable snub or a well-deserved win. As for this year’s Oscar nominations, Sinners is already leading the conversation.

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners made history with the Oscars even before the event began. Starring Michael B. Jordan, the film racked up an astonishing 16 nominations. With this, it smashed the previous record of 14 set by Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s All About Eve. 

The film is nominated for Best Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay, Casting, Production Design, Cinematography, Costume Design, Best Picture, Best Director, casting, production design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, original score,  sound, visual effects, and original song. Moreover, it is also nominated in nearly every technical category, becoming the seventh movie to do so. If early buzz is anything to go by, Sinners might break a few more records at the Oscars.

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What do you think about the voting system in Oscars? Let us know in the comments.