The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – the arbiters and awarders of the Oscars – have announced the newest members to join their ranks. And not before time: the last two years have seen the Academy Awards publicly shamed and boycotted over a lack of diversity.
Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee refused to attend this year’s ceremony, the former transmitting her dismay in a video{
But it seems like the Academy have listened, inviting 683 new members aged between 24-91 from 59 countries to join the voting process, of which 46% are women and 41% people of colour. International directors, makeup artists, producers, writers and cinematographers have all been called to arms, alongside a hefty mix of seasoned and up-and-coming actors.
Our favourite picks of the bunch? Deep breath: Lenny Abrahamson, Chadwick Boseman, John Boyega, Rose Byrne, Ryan Coogler, Xavier Dolan, Idris Elba, Tina Fey, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Andrew Garfield, Alex Garland, Greta Gerwig, Drew Goddard, Bruce Greenwood, Tom Hiddleston, Oscar Isaac, Ice Cube, Michael B. Jordan, Abbas Kiarostami, Brie Larson, Ken Loach, Patti LuPone, Park Chan-Wook, Adam McKay, Nicolas Winding Refn, Mark Rylance, Tessa Thompson, Alicia Vikander, Lana and Lilly Wachowski, Taika Waititi, Emma Watson, and, err, Will.i.am.
Previously 92% white and 75% male, the Academy’s overall female membership will be boosted from 25% to 27%, and 8% to 11% for people of colour if all invitees elect to join. These numbers may not sound like much, but this is an incredibly significant and exciting step in the right direction for the future of the Oscars.