The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, has announced it will be opening it’s doors to 819 new members from around the world in an effort to diversify its historically white-male-dominated ranks, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opened its doors to 819 new members, a mission they embarked on in early 2016 in the wake of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy
The list includes Nigeria’s very own veteran actress Genevieve Nnaji, and film director Akin Omotoso, Cynthia Erivo, Nigerian-born British actress is also included on the list. Omotola-Jalade Ekeinde and Femi Odugbemi were also invited as members of the Oscars voting body in 2018.
The Academy is delighted to welcome these distinguished fellow travelers in the motion picture arts and sciences. We have always embraced extraordinary talent that reflects the rich variety of our global film community, and never more so than now.
David Rubin, The Academy president, said in the statement.
