September 1, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Leslie Unger - (310) 247-3000

                         lunger@oscars.org

Beverly Hills, CA - Applications for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' new Academy Film Scholars program must be postmarked by Friday, September 15, Program Coordinator Greg Beal said today.

In October, the Academy will select two film scholars who will each receive $25,000 to help fund a work of scholarship proposed to the Academy in the application. The first two recipients will be announced in December.

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

The program was created in April 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.

Application forms are available at the Academy, by mail or on the Academy's web site at <http://www.oscars.org/foundation/filmscholars> Applications may not be obtained or submitted by fax or e-mail. To obtain an application call the Academy at 310-247-3000, ext. 165.