The Oscars finally recognize waterfalls with a new category, something for a long time desired by stuntmen, but I have never realized it so far.
The Council of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Thursday that they created an annual prize for the competitive academy for success in the design of waterfalls, starting with the 100th Oscars for films published in 2027.
“Since the first days of cinema, the design of the waterfalls has been an integral part of the cinema,” said the CEO of the Academy, Bill Kramer and the president of the Academy, Janet Yang, in a press release. “We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists, and we congratulate them for their commitment and their dedication to reach this important opportunity.”
The category rules for eligibility and the vote for the inaugural price will be announced in 2027 with the complete rules of the 100th Oscars. The details of the award ceremony will be determined by the Council of Governors of the Academy and executive leaders on a future date.
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For decades, supporters of an annual cascade category met with various AMPAS administrations but in vain. More recently, John Wick And Deadpool 2 Director David Leitch, who started as a stuntman and waterfall coordinator, had been among the most vocal to exhort the creation of a new category. Finally, this happened, although there have been special Oscars in the past, more recently, in Hal Needham in 2013. The veteran stuntman Yakima Canutt also received an honorary Oscar in 1967.
“The waterfalls are essential to all kinds of films and rooted in the depths of the history of our industry – revolutionary work of the first pioneers like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin in art inspiring today’s stuntmen, coordinators, artists and choreographers,” Leitch in Deadline told Deadline. “It was a long trip for so many of us. Chris O’Hara and I spent years working to give life to this moment, standing on the shoulders of the stuntmen who fought tirelessly for recognition over the decades. We are incredibly grateful. Thank you, Academy. “
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More than 100 cascade professionals are members of the Academy’s production and technology branch.
The latest new price category created was the realization in the casting, established in 2024 and starting with the 98th Academy Awards for films published this year.
