Motion Picture Academy Creates New Honor To Celebrate Theaters And The Moviegoing Experience
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- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the Academy Marquee List, a global award to honor 50 theaters (25 U.S., 25 international) for exceptional audience experiences and cultural impact.
- Jason Reitman proposed the initiative after leading a campaign to save the historic Fox Village Westwood Theatre, enlisting filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan.
- Bill Kramer (Academy CEO) said the list will celebrate moviegoing and unite the global film industry, while Lynette Howell Taylor (Academy President) echoed the sentiment.
- Academy set eligibility rules requiring brick‑and‑mortar theaters that operate year‑round, can screen first‑run or repertory films, and are judged on community engagement, technical quality, programming diversity, inclusion, historic preservation, and design.
- Academy will use a selection committee of members from all branches, with Board of Governors approval; submissions are limited to 10 theaters per chain and carry a fee.
Why it matters: The 50 selected theaters—25 U.S. and 25 abroad—gain prestigious Academy recognition by spring 2027, driving higher attendance and funding for preservation, while the Academy deepens its ties to exhibition and community culture.
