The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced that it has extended invites to 819 film influencers from across the globe as part of crackdown on racial and gender domination in its voting body.
Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji is among those called up to the voting panel of the Oscars alongside Nigerian filmmaker Akin Omotoso, British-Nigerian actress, Cynthia Erivo and other notable names in the showbiz industry of submerged countries.
In an effort to make its members more
diverse, if all 819 invitees accept their invitations, 45% of the new members will be women and 36% are people of colour. International make-up is 49% from 68 countries, bringing the total number of members to 9,412.
I’m honored to be a member of the family. Thank you @TheAcademy !! https://t.co/KBmza9he9E
— Genevieve Nnaji MFR (@GenevieveNnaji1) July 1, 2020
Academy chief executive, Dawn Hudson, said in a statement that “The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 819 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. The 2020 class is 45% women, 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 49% international from 68 countries. There are 75 Oscar® nominees, including 15 winners, and five recipients of Scientific and Technical Awards. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2020.”
The latest list also comes as a fulfilment of the Academy’s 2020 goal of increasing the number of women and people of colour in its membership.
Oscars voting body has come under intense criticism in recent years for its lack of diversity. Membership are mostly made up of white men, with the ensuing controversy earning film’s prestigious awards the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite on social media, and leaving a dent on its reputation.
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