The
Academy Awards, or "
Oscars", is an annual
American awards ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognise excellence in cinematic achievements in the
film industry as assessed by the Academy's voting membership. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially called the Academy Award of Merit, which has become commonly known by its nickname "Oscar". The awards, first presented in 1929 at the
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, are overseen by the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).