Oscar is a term used to refer to the Academy Award, which is an accolade presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements. The award consists of a gold statuette named "Oscar" depicting a knight rendered in Art Deco style holding a sword standing on a reel of film, with five spokes emanating from the center signifying the five major categories of the awards: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay. The first Oscars ceremony was held in 1929, and since then it has become one of the most prestigious honors in the world of cinema.