The ballots are all in!

Millions of television viewers around the globe will tune in Sunday to watch the Oscars, the glitziest night in showbiz, but most don't know how the winners are chosen. Answer: more than 9,300 people in the entertainment industry select honorees. The number is a record high. But who are they and how did they get to become voters?

Here is a look at the complex, sometimes confounding process that leads to the winners of the 23 Academy Awards:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/oscars-best-picture-winners-of-the-past-decade-379734" hreflang="en">Oscars: Best picture winners of the past decade</a>

&nbsp;Who votes? -&nbsp;

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles currently has 9,362 voting members.

Academy membership is divided into 17 branches -- actors, directors, producers, costume designers and so on -- and candidates must be active or otherwise have "achieved distinction" in the industry.

Applicants must be sponsored by two Academy members representing their branch. Oscar winners and nominees are automatically considered for membership and don't need sponsors.

Applications are reviewed once a year by the Academy's Board of Governors, which has the final say on who joins the elite group. Members used to enjoy voting rights for life but since 2016, "voting status" has been limited to 10 years, and is renewable, to avoid having voters who are no longer active in the business.

Lifetime voting rights only come after three 10-year terms. Those not active become "emeritus" members who cannot vote.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/oscars-2021-nominated-movies-that-you-can-watch-this-weekend-before-the-big-night-379495">Oscars 2021: Nominated movies that you can watch this weekend before the big night</a>

&nbsp;Who are the Academy members? -&nbsp;

For a long time, the Academy did not reveal its voting roll, though nothing prevents a member from saying he or she can cast a ballot.

At the time of the #OscarsSoWhite uproar in 2015 and 2016, about the lack of nominees of color, the Academy revealed that of its 6,000 members, 93 percent were white and 76 percent were men. The median age was 63. The Academy announced it would double the number of women and minority members by 2020 to foster a more diverse environment.

Last summer, the organization announced it had met that goal. The Academy is now one-third female and 19 per cent "underrepresented minorities." The group has also vastly boosted its foreign membership. Now, more than 2,100 are not Americans.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/oscars-2021-5-most-memorable-moments-of-all-time-379431" hreflang="en">Oscars 2021: 5 most memorable moments of all-time</a>

How are the nominees chosen? -&nbsp;

Members of each of the 17 branches pick the nominees in their area of expertise. The actors' branch -- the largest voting group -- submits nominations for the acting categories, directors submit nominations for best director and so on.

Nominations for certain awards, like for best international film and best-animated feature, are chosen by special committees. The entire membership votes to choose the nominees for the best picture.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/oscars-2021-heres-a-look-back-at-posthumous-oscar-winners-379235" hreflang="en">Oscars 2021: Here's a look back at posthumous Oscar winners</a>

How are the winners chosen? -

All voting members choose the winners. In 22 of 23 categories, the person with the most votes is the winner.

But when it comes to the coveted best picture award, the Oscar voters have since 2009 used a complicated preferential ballot system in which they rank the films from most favourite to least favourite.&nbsp;

Anywhere from five to 10 nominees can be chosen: this year, eight films are in contention. If one film garners more than 50 per cent of the vote outright, it automatically wins.

Otherwise, the count unfolds in rounds -- the film that received the lowest number of first-place votes is eliminated and those votes given to it are then allocated to the voters' second choice. The process of elimination continues until there is one film left with more than 50 per cent of the vote.

"The idea of the preferential ballot is to reflect the wishes of the greatest number of voters," explained Ric Robertson, who was the Academy's chief operating officer in 2009 when the process changed.

"Otherwise you might end up with a movie that, say, 25 per cent of the people love and the rest can't stand," he told the Los Angeles Times.

"This way, hopefully, you have a winner that most people can live with."

The ballots are all in! Millions of television viewers around the globe will tune in Sunday to watch the Oscars, the glitziest night in showbiz, but most don't know how the winners are chosen.

The ballots are all in! Millions of television viewers around the globe will tune in Sunday to watch the Oscars, the glitziest night in showbiz, but most don't know how the winners are chosen. Answer: more than 9,300 people in the entertainment industry select honorees. The number is a record high. But who are they and how did they get to become voters? Here is a look at the complex, sometimes confounding process that leads to the winners of the 23 Academy Awards: Oscars: Best picture winners of the past decade Who votes? - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles currently has 9,362 voting members. Academy membership is divided into 17 branches -- actors, directors, producers, costume designers and so on -- and candidates must be active or otherwise have "achieved distinction" in the industry. Applicants must be sponsored by two Academy members representing their branch. Oscar winners and nominees are automatically considered for membership and don't need sponsors. Applications are reviewed once a year by the Academy's Board of Governors, which has the final say on who joins the elite group. Members used to enjoy voting rights for life but since 2016, "voting status" has been limited to 10 years, and is renewable, to avoid having voters who are no longer active in the business. Lifetime voting rights only come after three 10-year terms. Those not active become "emeritus" members who cannot vote. Oscars 2021: Nominated movies that you can watch this weekend before the big night Who are the Academy members? - For a long time, the Academy did not reveal its voting roll, though nothing prevents a member from saying he or she can cast a ballot. At the time of the #OscarsSoWhite uproar in 2015 and 2016, about the lack of nominees of color, the Academy revealed that of its 6,000 members, 93 percent were white and 76 percent were men. The median age was 63. The Academy announced it would double the number of women and minority members by 2020 to foster a more diverse environment. Last summer, the organization announced it had met that goal. The Academy is now one-third female and 19 per cent "underrepresented minorities." The group has also vastly boosted its foreign membership. Now, more than 2,100 are not Americans. Oscars 2021: 5 most memorable moments of all-time How are the nominees chosen? - Members of each of the 17 branches pick the nominees in their area of expertise. The actors' branch -- the largest voting group -- submits nominations for the acting categories, directors submit nominations for best director and so on. Nominations for certain awards, like for best international film and best-animated feature, are chosen by special committees. The entire membership votes to choose the nominees for the best picture. Oscars 2021: Here's a look back at posthumous Oscar winners How are the winners chosen? - All voting members choose the winners. In 22 of 23 categories, the person with the most votes is the winner. But when it comes to the coveted best picture award, the Oscar voters have since 2009 used a complicated preferential ballot system in which they rank the films from most favourite to least favourite. Anywhere from five to 10 nominees can be chosen: this year, eight films are in contention. If one film garners more than 50 per cent of the vote outright, it automatically wins. Otherwise, the count unfolds in rounds -- the film that received the lowest number of first-place votes is eliminated and those votes given to it are then allocated to the voters' second choice. The process of elimination continues until there is one film left with more than 50 per cent of the vote. "The idea of the preferential ballot is to reflect the wishes of the greatest number of voters," explained Ric Robertson, who was the Academy's chief operating officer in 2009 when the process changed. "Otherwise you might end up with a movie that, say, 25 per cent of the people love and the rest can't stand," he told the Los Angeles Times. "This way, hopefully, you have a winner that most people can live with."

Who votes for the Oscars, and how does it work?

2020 Oscars: Meet the best actor nominees

If you haven’t seen Sam Mendes’ ‘1917’ yet then we suggest you do it because this film is an experience in itself. It is not just a war film but a piece of art that needs your attention, especially in the political climate that the movie has been released. With tensions rising between the US and Iran, speculations of World War III being dropped at the blink of an eye -- it’s only fair we look back at what happened between two soldiers amid the backdrop of World War I.&nbsp;

Throughout the length of the film, ‘1917’ keeps it real, focused, humane and relevant. A war film that shows the perils of war, how often have we seen that? While these might not be the only reasons why we think the film deserves an Oscar for Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing; it deserves also for its splendid camera work, effortless acting by all the stars and the screenplay that binds you to your chair in the theatres. We highly recommend you watch it in a theatre, preferably an IMAX with superior sound quality and mega-sized screen that lets you enjoy every scene as it flows uninterrupted with some powerful background score. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/1917-review-sam-mendes-film-is-haunting-heartbreaking-yet-the-most-compelling-piece-of-art-274832">Read our review of the film here.&nbsp;</a>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscars-2020-predictions-will-sam-mendes-1917-become-first-war-film-after-hurt-locker-to-win-best-picture-273769">Oscars 2020 predictions: Will Sam Mendes' '1917' become first war film after 'Hurt Locker' to win Best Picture?</a></h2>

‘1917’ won Best Film at the Producers Guild of America awards on Saturday night in Los Angeles in addition to wins for Best Drama and Best Director at last month’s Golden Globes. This only ups the film’s chances for this year’s Oscars that already has a few surprise inclusions (we can’t forget ‘Parasite’ has been hauling up all the top prizes in this awards season). But there’s something about ‘1917’ that makes it the front runner for Best Film Oscars.&nbsp;

&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscars-to-go-host-less-for-the-second-year-in-a-row-273073">Also read: Oscars to go host-less for the second year in a row</a>

Watch the trailer of 1917 here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="384" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gZjQROMAh_s" width="683"></iframe>

Producers Guild and The Academy usually run parallel, hinting at a possible winner for Best Picture Oscars 2020. Remember ‘Greenbook’ that took the prize for Best Picture Oscars right after it won the Producers Guild?&nbsp;

Actually it’s a straight-up fight between ‘Parasite’, the South Korean black comedy and ‘1917’, a war film that highlights why we shouldn’t have a war in the first place. This, is taking a different route from what critics and movie buffs had thought of before the awards season kicked off this year. It was initially thought to be a fight between Quentin Tarantino's ‘Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’ and Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’. However, the two have stayed away from any dialogue of hauling up the Best Film at the Oscars.&nbsp;

Other Oscars 2020 stories:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/salma-hayeks-big-butt-would-have-led-to-a-fashion-disaster-at-oscars-2003-if-not-for-renee-zellweger-273466">Salma Hayek's 'big butt' would have led to a fashion disaster at Oscars 2003 if not for Renee Zellweger</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jamie-foxx-on-lack-of-diversity-at-oscars-we-dont-start-these-movies-to-win-awards-274519">Jamie Foxx on lack of diversity at Oscars: We don't start these movies to win awards</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/2020-oscars-nominations-7-snubs-that-took-everyone-by-surprise-274263">Read about 7 snubs this Oscars nomination.&nbsp;</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/academy-member-stephen-king-receives-backlash-for-comment-on-lack-of-diversity-at-oscars-274405">Stephen King receives backlash for comment on lack of diversity in Oscar nominations</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscars-2020-parasite-makes-history-as-first-south-korean-film-to-get-best-picture-best-foreign-film-nods-274142">&nbsp;'Parasite' makes history as first South Korean film to get Best Picture, Best Foreign Film nod</a>

If you haven’t seen Sam Mendes’ ‘1917’ yet then we suggest you do it because this film is an experience in itself. It is not just a war film but a piece of art that needs your attention, especially in the political climate that the movie has been released.

If you haven’t seen Sam Mendes’ ‘1917’ yet then we suggest you do it because this film is an experience in itself. It is not just a war film but a piece of art that needs your attention, especially in the political climate that the movie has been released. With tensions rising between the US and Iran, speculations of World War III being dropped at the blink of an eye -- it’s only fair we look back at what happened between two soldiers amid the backdrop of World War I. Throughout the length of the film, ‘1917’ keeps it real, focused, humane and relevant. A war film that shows the perils of war, how often have we seen that? While these might not be the only reasons why we think the film deserves an Oscar for Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing; it deserves also for its splendid camera work, effortless acting by all the stars and the screenplay that binds you to your chair in the theatres. We highly recommend you watch it in a theatre, preferably an IMAX with superior sound quality and mega-sized screen that lets you enjoy every scene as it flows uninterrupted with some powerful background score. Read our review of the film here. Oscars 2020 predictions: Will Sam Mendes' '1917' become first war film after 'Hurt Locker' to win Best Picture? ‘1917’ won Best Film at the Producers Guild of America awards on Saturday night in Los Angeles in addition to wins for Best Drama and Best Director at last month’s Golden Globes. This only ups the film’s chances for this year’s Oscars that already has a few surprise inclusions (we can’t forget ‘Parasite’ has been hauling up all the top prizes in this awards season). But there’s something about ‘1917’ that makes it the front runner for Best Film Oscars. Also read: Oscars to go host-less for the second year in a row Watch the trailer of 1917 here: Producers Guild and The Academy usually run parallel, hinting at a possible winner for Best Picture Oscars 2020. Remember ‘Greenbook’ that took the prize for Best Picture Oscars right after it won the Producers Guild? Actually it’s a straight-up fight between ‘Parasite’, the South Korean black comedy and ‘1917’, a war film that highlights why we shouldn’t have a war in the first place. This, is taking a different route from what critics and movie buffs had thought of before the awards season kicked off this year. It was initially thought to be a fight between Quentin Tarantino's ‘Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’ and Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’. However, the two have stayed away from any dialogue of hauling up the Best Film at the Oscars. Other Oscars 2020 stories: Salma Hayek's 'big butt' would have led to a fashion disaster at Oscars 2003 if not for Renee Zellweger Jamie Foxx on lack of diversity at Oscars: We don't start these movies to win awards Read about 7 snubs this Oscars nomination. Stephen King receives backlash for comment on lack of diversity in Oscar nominations 'Parasite' makes history as first South Korean film to get Best Picture, Best Foreign Film nod

This is why we think Sam Mendes' '1917' is front runner for Oscars Best Film