April 28, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Leslie Unger - (310) 247-3000

                        lunger@oscars.org

Beverly Hills, CA - A new annual program of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will award $25,000 each to two film scholars, Academy President Robert Rehme announced today. The first two recipients will be announced this December, and two new Academy Film Scholars will be selected each December thereafter.

Only established scholars, writers, historians and researchers with a significant record of achievement will be considered for the grants, Rehme said. Grants will not be available to students.

The program was created by the Grants Committee of the Academy Foundation to "stimulate and support the creation of new, innovative and significant works of film scholarship about aesthetic, cultural, educational, historical, theoretical or scientific aspects of theatrical motion pictures."

Applicants must propose a new work of film scholarship encompassing some aspect of theatrical motion picture art, science, commerce, history or theory. Works solely exploring television, video or other media arts themes are not eligible.

The proposed projects may be for books, multimedia presentations, curatorial projects, electronic disks or Internet sites, and must be in English. Proposals for the creation of films, television programming or videos will not be considered.

The program will be administered by Academy Program Coordinator Greg Beal. The Academy's Grants Committee will review submitted proposals and select each year's Scholars based on their proposals.

A ceremony will be held each year to honor the selected Scholars. In addition, Academy Film Scholars will be required to present their projects or findings in lecture form at the Academy within one year following the completion of their work. Scholars also will be asked to donate two copies of any "physical deliverable" to the Academy. "That means the resulting book, exhibition catalog, white paper, CD or what have you," Beal said.

To be considered, a completed application form, a description of the proposed project - up to five pages in length - and a curriculum vita which includes a list of previously published works must be submitted. There is no fee for consideration.

Application forms are available at the Academy, by mail or on the Academy's web site at <www.oscars.org/foundation/filmscholars>. Applications may not be obtained or submitted by fax or e-mail. To obtain an application by mail, write to Academy Film Scholars, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, or call the Academy at 310-247-3000, ext. 165.

Completed applications should be sent to the same address and must be postmarked by September 15, 2000, in order to be considered for the inaugural year.