The phrase “the Academy” most often refers to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) , the organization behind the Oscars.

Who is “the Academy”?

When people in movies or on the news say “the Academy,” they are usually talking about AMPAS, a professional honorary organization based in Beverly Hills, California. It was founded in 1927 by film industry leaders to promote the arts and sciences of motion pictures and to improve the public image and standards of filmmaking.

  • It is made up of more than 11,000 film professionals (actors, directors, writers, producers, etc.).
  • Its best‑known role is running the Academy Awards , commonly called the Oscars.
  • The Oscars honor artistic and technical excellence in film every year.

In short, “the Academy” is not one person, but a large membership organization of film professionals that votes on and presents the Oscars.

Other “Academies” people might mean

Depending on context, “the academy” can also point to other organizations:

  • Television Academy – runs the Emmy Awards for television and broadband entertainment.
  • General term “academy” – can mean any specialized school or learned society, but without context it usually does not mean the Oscars group.

So if someone online asks “who is the Academy?” in a film or awards context, they almost always mean the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , the body that votes for and presents the Oscars.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.