[antceecee]

"Just because something is popular doesn't mean it's good."

Just because the Academy Award is the self-proclaimed 'most' prestigious award for film artisans, does not necessarily mean they award the "best" of what was presented for the year. They award what is "popular" in the sphere in which they live/experience film.
When they do consider indy films it is with a "grande largesse" and given only in the instance that it makes them look magnanimous to all the other "little" people in film (include here foreign films). Great exception here are anyfor any indy or foreign films which help to emphasize a political/social statement they are trying to convey in the awards ceremony.

[Borges]

Oh I can quarrel with their choices most years. Just stating that it is what people who work in the movies all hope for at some point in their careers and anyone who says otherwise is probably lying. As foreign films being chosen on the basis of political statements, this year's winner "The Lives of Others" is about how brutal East Germany was.

[durasell]

Would it help if I told you that the Academy was originally a union busting ploy and the Awards a publicity gimmick?