About the exhibition
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded in 1927 by 36 members of the Hollywood film community. It now unites more than 11,000 members globally. The Academy is dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of cinema and celebrates excellence, artistry, and innovation in filmmaking each year at the annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.
At its inception, the Academy consisted of five governing branches: Actors, Directors, Producers, Technicians, and Writers. Today, it has 19 branches, representing a broad range of film professions. Branches elect governors who represent them on the Board of Governors, which is responsible for guiding the Academy’s strategic vision. Branch members also vote for nominees in their branch’s respective Oscar categories. All eligible Academy members participate in final voting.
The timeline in this gallery illustrates the evolution of Academy membership, displaying how the branches have originated and evolved. This gallery introduces all 19 branches, highlighting filmmakers at work and revealing the various talents, collaborations, and careers that continue to shape the film industry.
This exhibition is curated by Doris Berger, vice president of curatorial affairs, with Josue Lopez, research assistant, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, with support from Libby Wertin, former senior librarian at the Margaret Herrick Library, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Member Relations, Global Outreach and Awards Administration department, led by Meredith Shea and the liaisons Dilcia Barrera, Michael Benedict, Angelica Cervantes, Josh Nallathambi, Natalie Wade, and Rose Wuyts-Wilson.
Special thanks to the 2025–2026 Academy Board of Governors who advised on the image selections and wrote the description for each branch.