While the Academy Awards have always found ways to honor the deceased, the formal 'In Memoriam' segment we see today only became an annual tradition in 1994. Previously, the Academy occasionally mentioned names in speeches or had a brief tribute every few years. The shift happened during the 66th Academy Awards, where producers decided that a dedicated, silent montage set to music was the most respectful way to handle the growing list of industry legends passing away each year. Today, it is one of the most scrutinized parts of the show, as fans and family members often express outrage if a specific person is 'snubbed' from the montage. The selection process is now handled by a dedicated committee that must whittle down hundreds of names to roughly 30 to 40 individuals for the broadcast.