The Cosmique Movie Awards were founded in 2001 by a group of friends in
San Francisco in reaction to the Academy Awards. At a 2001 Academy
Awards party, ballots were handed out for attendees to vote on their
favorite movies, performances, performers, characters, and movie scenes
of all time. As this was the inaugural year for the awards, the Board of
Governors decided that a fair amount of catching up was needed, so the
nominations were open to films of all time, rather than those released
that calendar year. Subsequent years have focused on films released the
previous calendar year (with the exception of a few lifetime achievement
awards each year).
Since the first year, membership has grown to scores of members. The membership list is kept confidential and admission is by invitation only. Members of the Academy come from all walks of life, but share a certain sensibility. Most of the members (but not all) are in San Francisco. They are disproportionately (but by no means exclusively) gay, lesbian, or bisexual. They are primarily (though not completely) disassociated with the film industry, except as fans. Membership is restricted, but there are no membership fees. Members are not expected to see all of the potential or actual nominees, though many make a point of doing so. The Cosmos operate under the philosophy that what we choose to honor is as much about what draws us to the cinemas as it is about what we liked when we got there.
Each year, the Cosmique Movie Academy's Board of Governors selects the categories that will be used that year. This may include creating new categories or, in rare instances, retiring others. Each year, another film, actor, and actress is inducted into the Hall of Fame. In some years, additional lifetime achievement categories may also be offered from time to time, usually as a special one-time-only award. But most of the awards are dedicated to films and performances from the previous calendar year.