Academy Award Screenplay Timeline

ACADEMY AWARD SCREENPLAY TIMELINE
THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE THINGS COMPLICATED!

**The writing categories the Academy gave out have gone through numerous changes throughout the years, so many in fact that they could not all be listed on the award pages themselves. As a result I have created a time line showing the changes in categories. It should be noted that while at different times credit for story was separate from the screenplay awards, and other times it was a combined award, but on this site we will only be recognizing the screenwriters for simplicity purposes.**

1927/1928 - There were 3 categories called: "Adaptation", "Original Story", and "Title Writing".
1928/1929-1929/1930 - Only one award was given for writing in general.
1930/1931-1934 - There were 2 categories called: "Adaptaion" and "Original Story".
1935-1939 - The Academy changed the two writing awards given to: "Original Story" and "Screenplay" (the "Screenplay" award was only for adapted material).
1940-1941 - Went back to giving out 3 writing awards called: "Original Screenplay", "Original Story", and "Screenplay" (the "Screenplay" award was only for adapted material).
1942-1946 - The "Original Screenplay" and "Screenplay" categories remain the same however the "Original Story" award title was changed to "Original Motion Picture Story"
1947 - The "Original Screenplay" and "Screenplay" categories remain the same however the "Original Motion Picture Story" category is shortened to "Motion Picture Story."
1948 - The Academy goes down to two writing awards called: "Motion Picture Story" and "Screenplay" (the "Screenplay" award was only for adapted material).
1949-1955 - Went back up to 3 categories called: "Motion Picture Story", "Screenplay", and "Story And Screenplay" (The "Story And Screenplay" awards were given for original material, while the "Screenplay" category was for adapted or original material.)
1957-1968 - Went back down to 2 awards: "Screenplay - Based On Material From Another Medium", and "Story And Screenplay - Written Directly For The Screen"
1969 - The 2 awards were changed to: "Screenplay - Based On Material From Another Medium" and "Story And Screenplay - Based On Material Not Previously Published Or Produced", but this only lasted a year.
1970-1973 - The 2 awards changed again to: "Screenplay - Based On Material From Another Medium" and "Story And Screenplay - Based On Factual Material Or Material Not Previously Published Or Produced".
1974-1975 - The names were simplified for the two writing awards. The categories became: "Original Screenplay" and "Screenplay Adapted From Other Material"
1976-1977 - The names became longer again being changed to: "Screenplay - Based On Material From Another Medium" and "Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen - Based On Factual Material Or On Story Material Not Previously Published Or Produced."
1978-1990 - The category titles were once again shortened to " Screenplay - Based On Material From Another Medium" and "Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen".
1991-2001 - Once again the Academy changed the award titles, this time they were changed to: "Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced Or Published" and "Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen"
2002-CURRENT - The award titles were once again simplified to: "Adapted Screenplay" and "Original Screenplay"

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