We’re less than a week away from the Academy Awards, and somewhere an accountant is counting upvotes and figuring out what name to write inside an envelope that says “supporting actor.” That name could very well be Mahershala Ali, who turned in an excellent performance in the film “Moonlight.” But how exactly does that name get in that envelope, and how exactly did Ali get on that list of nominees? In this video, we explore the mysterious and fascinating Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that decides who gets to win an Oscar.

I've thoroughly enjoyed designing the collages in this video! It was a fun experience to collaborate with FiveThirtyEight from NYC, such a cheerful team of journalists and animators who have done their best to give you a brief education about 2017 Oscars and the academy.