It’s time to talk Hollywood Awards Season — which, in our opinion, is undoubtedly the most wonderful time of year in the Hollywood calendar.
While we look forward to the glitz and glamour of the red carpet, impromptu acceptance speeches and some seriously exciting celebrity reunions (ahem, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston) — we have a lot of questions.
Why are there so many award shows? Who votes for the winners? And what do each of the awards mean?
To help answer all of these burning questions, we’ve broken down all of the ceremonies and why they are so important.
The Golden Globe Awards
The Golden Globe Awards are held every year on the first Sunday in January and are voted by a group of journalists from around the “globe”, known as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Acknowledging both achievements in television and film, the Golden Globes kick off awards season in Hollywood, but are just as popular as the Oscars.
Critics’ Choice Awards
The Critics’ Choice Awards are held on the second weekend in January and are voted by the Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, which is made up of mostly American critics.
The Critics’ Choice honours achievements in both film and television and often is a precursor to Oscar predictions.
Screen Actors Guild Awards
The Screen Actors Guild Awards or the “SAG’s” are held in the third week of January and are voted by the members of the Screen Actors Guild (which includes actors) and the AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) which includes journalists, anchors, DJs and program hosts.
Upon announcing an award, the presenter always says: “and the Actor goes to”.
The SAG’s honour achievements in both film and television and are also a good predictor for who will win an Oscar, especially since it is largely voted by actors.
The Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are held in the last week of January and celebrate the best of the best in the music industry.
Originally called “the Grammophone” awards, the annual presentation ceremony features performances by prominent artists and the presentation of those awards that have a more popular interest.
The Recording Academy (comprised solely of music creators, including artists, engineers, producers, and songwriters) and make up the voting members for the Grammy Awards.
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards Ceremony
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards are held during the first weekend in February and are voted by the members of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
The best way to describe the BAFTA’s? It’s like the Emmy’s, but British.
Academy Awards
The Academy Awards are by far the most prestigious ceremony and mark the official end of Award Season.
Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) are comprised of film professionals (including actors, writers, producers, directors, cinematographers, costume designers, editors and more) who vote.
The ceremony celebrates only the best in film.
