I just watched it for the first time tonight and I don't get why Anne Bancroft was in the lead category at the Oscar's. I mean if you clocked her screen time I bet she's only in it for like 28 minutes. I mean her and Katharine Ross basically had the same amount of screentime. What do you guys think?

Anne Bancroft was a surprisingly good actress...

Yeah she was, but I'm not talking about how good she is I'm asking about the screentime. Her and Katherine Ross had like the same amount of screentime imo.

Screen time isnt the deciding factor where category is concerned. We have Forrest Whitaker and Anthony Hopkins, for example, recently. And that's just two examples.
What I find very questionable, is when a lead performance competes in supporting.
I would say Ms Bancroft's role qualifies as a lead in this case. She was integral to the film, anyways.

I have wondered the same thing after I saw the movie. But Anne Bancroft's presence and the importance of ther character, I think, allow the placement in lead.
I also imagine that, back in the 60s, someone like Anne Bancroft would never have accepted being placed in supporting...

the focus of the film is "mrs. robinson" and her reaction to every action...her scenes with benjamin are riveting...dustin hoffman and katharine ross were unknowns..and bancroft was coming off a best actress oscar in 1962 and another nomination in 1964..so by 1967 she was a top female star..a great actress and has top billing in a masterpiece...in my mind..clearly the lead..remember anthony hopkins in silence of the lambs..less screentime than jodie foster but clearly a lead acting performance...bancroft had won the golden globe for comedy/musical actress for the graduate..so i think her placement was perfect...and she shouldve won the oscar for the graduate...kate hepburns was a sympathy and consolation award because of spencer tracy's death...all of anne bancrofts 5 nominations were for lead actress...a true great!!!!!

Anne Bancroft's part was considered very daring and provocative in its day, and seriously, she delivered a performance of great weight. Where screentime is concerned, it is not lesser than Nicole Kidman's in The Hours for which the latter won an Oscar.