Renowned musician and Grammy^® Award nominee Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, with his band Orleans Avenue, is set to perform at the Governors Ball, the Academy’s official post-Oscars^® celebration, on Sunday, February 28.  The group will entertain the Ball’s 1,500 guests, which will include Oscar^® winners and nominees, show presenters and performers, and other luminaries.

This year’s “The Oscars® Backstage” on Oscar.com, which is the ultimate second screen experience for fans watching the show, will be hosted by a multi-talented group of TV personalities, including actor/writer/producer Orlando Jones, actress and TV personality Diane Mizota, actor Matt Shively, film critic and entertainment reporter Ben Lyons, and entertainment and sports reporter Chris Connelly.

Oscar winners Morgan Freeman and John Legend have been added to the list of presenters along with J.J. Abrams, Sacha Baron Cohen and Henry Cavill for the 88th Oscars® telecast. Oscar producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin also announced a special performance by Dave Grohl for the 88th annual event, hosted by Chris Rock, airing live Oscar Sunday, February 28, on ABC.  

The Academy announced today that Polich Tallix Fine Art Foundry, based in Rock Tavern, New York, will exclusively create its iconic Oscar statuettes, starting with the 88th Academy Awards.  In a process that returns to the Oscar’s fine art roots, the statuettes will now be hand-cast in bronze before receiving its 24-karat gold finish.

“With the help of some 21st century technology, we’re able to honor the Oscar’s proud beginnings,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs.  “The new statuette exemplifies impeccable craftsmanship and the enduring nature of art.” 

To ensure public safety, support security strategies and facilitate the production of this year’s Oscars®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the City of Los Angeles have finalized street closure plans around the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood.

Six Oscar Winners Join Presenter Line Up

Oscars producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin announced today a third slate of presenters for the 88th Oscars telecast. The Oscars, hosted by Chris Rock, will air live Oscar^® Sunday, February 28, on ABC.  

The presenters, including several Oscar winners, are:

Oscars producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin announced today the second slate of presenters for the 88th Oscars telecast. The Oscars, hosted by Chris Rock, will air live Oscar Sunday, February 28, on ABC.  

The presenters, including Oscar winners and nominees, are:

Steve Carell
Priyanka Chopra
Quincy Jones
Byung-hun Lee
Jared Leto
Julianne Moore
Olivia Munn
Margot Robbie
Jason Segel
Andy Serkis
J.K. Simmons
Kerry Washington
Reese Witherspoon 

Oscars producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin announced today the first slate of presenters for the 88th Oscars telecast. The Oscars, hosted by Chris Rock, will air live Oscar^® Sunday, February 28, on ABC.  

The presenters and performers, including past Oscar winners and nominees, are: 

     Benicio Del Toro
     Tina Fey
     Whoopi Goldberg
     Ryan Gosling
     Kevin Hart
     Lady Gaga
     Sam Smith
     Charlize Theron
     Jacob Tremblay
     The Weeknd
     Pharrell Williams

I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful work of this year’s nominees.  While we celebrate their extraordinary achievements, I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes. The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership.  In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond.