At a Town Hall meeting, Marge suggests that Springfield boost its image by holding a film festival. With the townspeople's consent, she establishes a distiguished jury, including Jay Sherman, a critic from New York.

The Simpsons invite Sherman to stay at their home. Homer becomes jealous of Sherman and asks Marge if he can be on the jury as well. Marge reluctantly assigns Homer to the jury in place of Martin Scorscese. Meanwhile, Mr. Burns uses the film festival as a public relations vehicle to improve his own image. He hires a director to glorify his achievements in a high-budget epic. However, when the film is shown at the festival, Burns is booed.

Burns bribes two members of the jury to vote for his film, forcing the panel into a deadlock. Sherman selects Barney's artistic balck and white film, while Homer picks a short called Man Getting Hit by Football, by Hans Moleman. Homer reconsiders and votes for Barbey's quality entry, which wins first prize. Disgraced, Burns leaves the festival and brings his film to the Oscars. He loses the Oscar to George C. Scott's remake of Football in the Groin.