Details for Academy Award

September 12, 2006 (Press Release) -- Academy Award rules are reviewed annually. Recent rule changes include the following:
• For 2003, the category names for the writing awards were simplified. The “Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published” category was renamed the “Adapted Screenplay” category. The category of “Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen” was renamed “Original Screenplay.”
• For 2002, a new category, Best Animated Feature, was established.
• As of 2001, a film cannot appear on the Internet before its theatrical release and be eligible for an Oscar.
• In 2000 (and again in 2003), rules were tightened to restrict Best Picture nominations and awards to producers who actually functioned as producers. Up to three producers are allowed per film. The 1998 Best Picture Oscar went to five producers for Shakespeare in Love.
Awards are given in many categories, including the following:
• Academy Award for Best Picture - 1928 to present
• Academy Award for Best Actor - 1928 to present
• Academy Award for Best Actress - 1928 to present
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - 1936 to present
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress - 1936 to present
• Academy Award for Best Animated Feature - 2001 to present
• Academy Award for Best Art Direction - 1928 to present (also called Interior or Set Decoration)
• Academy Award for Best Assistant Director - 1933 to 1937
• Academy Award for Best Cinematography - 1928 to present
• Academy Award for Comedy Direction - 1928 only
• Academy Award for Costume Design - 1948 to present
• Academy Award for Best Dance Direction (1935-1937)
• Academy Award for Directing - 1928 to present
• Academy Award for Documentary Feature
• Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject
• Academy Award for Engineering Effects - 1928 only
• Academy Award for Film Editing - 1935 to present
• Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film - 1947 to present
• Academy Award for Makeup
• Academy Award for Original Music Score
• Academy Award for Best Song
• Academy Award for Animated Short Film - 1931 to present
• Academy Award for Live Action Short Film
• Academy Award for Best Short Film - Color (1936-1937)
• Academy Award for Best Short Film - Live Action - 2 Reels (1936-1956)
• Academy Award for Short Film - Novelty (1932-1935)
• Academy Award for Sound
• Academy Award for Sound Effects Editing - 1963 to present
• Academy Award for Best Story (1928-1956)
• Academy Award for Best Title Writing - 1928 only
• Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production - 1928 only
• Academy Award for Visual Effects
• Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay - 1928 to present
• Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay - 1940 to present
• Scientific or Technical - 1931 to present at three levels:
o Academy Award of Scientific or Technical Merit - a statuette
o Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering Achievement - a plaque
o Academy Award for Technical Achievement - a citation
Special Awards:
• Academy Juvenile Award - 1934 to 1960
• Academy Honorary Award
• Academy Special Achievement Award
• The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
• The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
• Gordon E. Sawyer Academy Award

Source: http://www.yahoo.com