By Lindsey Bahr
Actors Lily Gladstone, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Catherine O'Hara and filmmakers Cord Jefferson, Boots Riley and "RRR" director S.S. Rajamouli are among the lucky few who have been invited to join the film academy.
In total 487 artists, including actors, directors, costume designers, publicists and executives received invitations this year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Tuesday. Those who accept will be able to vote in the Oscars race.
Should all invited in the 2024 class say yes, the academy will have 9,934 voting members and the makeup would be 35% women, 20% from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities and 20% international.
The invitees include 19 Oscar-winners, like best documentary recipient Mstyslav Chernov ("20 Days in Mariupol") and "Anatomy of a Fall" filmmaker Justine Triet, as well as 71 nominees including Sandra Hüller, "The Color Purple's" Danielle Brooks, "Past Lives" filmmaker Celine Song and "Oppenheimer" production designer Ruth De Jong.
Jefferson, who wrote and directed "American Fiction," was among eight individuals invited to join multiple branches. In his case, it was directing and writing, and like his peers he'll have to choose which branch to join. Song and Triet have to make the same decision.
"We are thrilled to welcome this year's class of new members to the academy," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a statement. "These remarkably talented artists and professionals from around the world have made a significant impact on our filmmaking community."
Other actors invited include Jessica Alba, Greta Lee and her "Past Lives" co-star Teo Yoo, Tia Carrere and Stephanie Beatriz. Those asked to join the directors branch include Alice Diop, Lila Avilés, Fede Álvarez, A.V. Rockwell, Emma Seligman and David Yates.
Among the executive branch invitees are Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League and Kim Yutani, the Sundance Film Festival's programming director.
The 97th Academy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on March 2.
Lindsey Bahr is an AP film writer
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTE®,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
“SMPTE’s membership has spoken,” said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “These officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!”
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More