The topic of gender has been generating a lot of conversation in recent years. It has permeated various aspects of society, from social media to the Olympics, and now it has made its way into the realm of the prestigious BAFTA awards.
In recent years, we have seen the rise of non-binary performers like Emma Corrin, Bella Ramsey, and Emma D’Arcy. However, they have had to fit themselves into the predetermined categories of “best actor” or “best actress”. While some consideration has been given to this issue since 2022, in 2023, the topic of gender-neutral categories has once again been brought up. The chief executive of BAFTA has stated that this matter is “constantly under review”.
However, according to reports from the Daily Mail, the Academy has decided to maintain the gendered categories as they currently stand. In fact, the guidelines released by the BAFTAs clearly state that producers must confirm the gender or gender identity of each nominee before the ceremony next year.
If we take a look at the BAFTA website, we can also see that the 2025 acting award ceremony will continue to be divided into separate categories for male and female, with no option for gender neutrality.
On the other hand, the BRITS have taken a different approach. In 2023, they introduced non-gendered awards. Instead of categories like “British Female Solo Artist” or “British Male Solo Artist”, they now have categories like “Artist of the Year” and “International Artist of the Year”. The organizers believe that this allows artists to be celebrated for their music and work, rather than their gender identity.
The exclusion of Sam Smith from the gendered categories in 2022, due to their non-binary identity, caused quite a stir. Even the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, is currently discussing the possibility of introducing gender-neutral categories.
CEO Bill Kramer from the Academy said, “We are exploring this topic with our awards, membership, equity, and inclusion committees and soon with our Board of Governors. It’s in the early exploration stage and one of many conversations about the future of awards and the Oscars. We are still investigating how it could look.”
Undoubtedly, this will be an interesting development to keep an eye on.
