On 25 June, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a significant expansion of its membership, inviting 487 new members from all parts of the globe. By so doing, the academy has shown its continued dedication to diversity in its ranks and for appreciating other cinematic voices.
According to Oscars.com, women constituted 44% of the Class of 2024, whereas underrepresented ethnicities filled 41% of it. At the same time, this selection is truly international since it encompasses people from fifty-six nations and territories beyond American borders.
A noteworthy list includes renowned Indian names such as S.S Rajamouli-RRR director that became a global hit and Shabana Azmi -veteran actress who got worldwide acclaim in her long successful career. Also invited were Rama Rajamouli, Ritesh Sidhwani (producer for RRR) and celebrated cinematographer Ravi Varman.
Moreover, filmmaker Rima Das (known for her touching films like Village Rockstars) as well as choreographer Prem Rakshith (who created Naatu Naatu-a viral song from RRR) have been honored too.
In addition to this fact, there are also many outstanding individuals on the list who have previously won or been nominated for Academy Awards. Out of seventy-one invitees that have received nominations for Oscars; nineteen currently possess gold statues which can be associated with these invitations. This wave pulls into already swelling ranks among accomplished storytellers thus ensuring more diverse perspectives during award seasons.
The CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed their excitement saying: “We are thrilled to welcome this year’s class of new members to the Academy. These remarkably talented artists and professionals from around the world have made a significant impact on our filmmaking community.”
