In choosing its newest members, the film academy went for younger and more diverse.
Kevin Hart, Common, Emma Stone, Dev Patel and “Whiplash” writer-director Damien Chazelle were among the 322 new academy members announced Friday.
“It’s really gratifying to see the big increases in genre, people of colour, age and national origin,” academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in an interview.
Other new inductees include Benedict Cumberbatch, David Oyelowo, Sergio Mendes, Elizabeth Banks, John Legend, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Hardy and “Dope” director Rick Famuyiwa.
Membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is by invitation only. Oscar nominees are automatically considered; others must be sponsored by two members of their branch of filmmaking. [more at source]
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