Every year, the biggest names in Hollywood gather for the Academy Awards, hoping to take home the most prestigious trophy in the film industry. But what many movie fans don’t realize is that winning an Oscar isn’t just about making the best film. Behind every major Oscar winner is a carefully crafted awards campaign, a months-long strategy involving screenings, advertising, press tours, and aggressive lobbying aimed directly at members of the Academy. In fact, the modern Oscar campaign machine was largely shaped by one controversial victory, and it changed the way studios chase Oscars forever.