Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said on March 29 it has decided to retain the services of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) despite a backstage envelope mix-up that led to the wrong film being announced winner of the best picture Oscar last month.
“After a thorough review, including an extensive presentation of revised protocols and ambitious controls, the board has decided to continue working with PwC,” Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs wrote in a letter to Academy members.
The error led to musical “La La Land” being declared the winner and its producers and cast celebrated and started acceptance speeches on the stage before “Moonlight” was named the real winner of the night’s top prize.
PwC, which has overseen Oscar balloting for 83 years, removed the two accountants responsible from further involvement in the Academy Awards and carried out an investigation into tightening up its procedures.