A statement on the Oscars’ official website on Wednesday (June 29th) said: “The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 683 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures”.
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Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke. For the Chinese industry, directors Jia Zhangke, Wang Bing and Hou Hsiao-Hsien as well as cinematographers Poon Hang-Sang, Peter Pau and Zhao Fei were on the member list.
Academy president Cheryl Boone-Isaac promised to make changes to membership to ensure that it wasn’t dominated by white Hollywood – and veteran filmmakers who haven’t made a contribution in years – and it looks like she’s made good on it. The Academy announced the 683 new people they were inviting to join their 2016 class, and there’s a marked increase in diversity.
The new group also includes Belgian-Kurdish filmmaker Sahim Omar Kalifa, Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami and Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta.
There are 283 new global members representing 59 countries.
USA Today notes that “the new class, a record in size, is 46% female and 41% people of color”.
The Academy came under fire earlier this year after it nominated all white actors for all the Oscars acting prizes for the second year in a row.
There are now more than 6000 members of the academy.
Changing the ethnic and gender makeup of Oscar voters will do precisely nothing to improve the quality of a single film or performance.
The fall-out led to actress Jada Pinkett-Smith and filmmaker Spike Lee both boycotting the ceremony, and #OscarsSoWhite trending online.
Idris Elba has been invited to vote for next year’s Academy Awards.
Currently, the membership is 25 percent female and 8 percent minority.
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According to a statement by the academy, the new invitees include actors John Boyega of Star Wars, Emma Watson of Harry Potter, Swedish Oscar victor Alicia Vikander and musician Mary J Blige. Among the names are numerous high-profile women and people or color.
