Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton just joined a legendary roster of cinema icons who've earned special recognition. At the Governors Awards on Nov. 16, the creatives were given Honorary Awards, with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award going to Parton. They each received Oscar statuettes.But what exactly is an Honorary Oscar, and why does it carry so much weight in the industry?A Different Kind of Oscar The Academy Honorary Award recognizes motion picture achievements that aren't covered by existing Academy Awards, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. While the annual Oscars recognize films from the year before in specific categories, the Honorary Awards are the Academy's way of lifting up those who have made special contributions to cinema, often over their lifetimes in diverse ways.The award was instituted in 1950, though it had previously been known as the Special Award, dating back to the first Academy Awards in 1929 (when that Special Award went to Charlie Chaplin for The Circus).Honorary Award recipients don't have to meet the Academy's standard eligibility year and deadline requirements. This gives the Academy the flexibility to honor careers and contributions spanning decades.Who Votes on the Honorary Oscars? Unlike the competitive Oscars, which are voted on by the Academy's full membership, Honorary Oscars are decided by the Board of Governors. This smaller group meets each spring to select recipients, and up to four Governors Awards may be presented in a given year.There is a restriction on who can win....
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today