Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Mani Ratnam, Karan Johar among 400 new Oscar invitees

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to over 400 new members, marking a significant step towards inclusivity and diversity. Among the notable invitees are several individuals from India and various underrepresented groups. 

The Academy's efforts aim to recognise and amplify the voices of underrepresented communities in the film industry.

This year's invitee list includes Austin Butler, Ke Huy Quan, Keke Palmer, NT Rama Rao Jr, Ram Charan, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd, among many others.

• If all the invitees accept membership, the Academy's total membership will reach 10,817; with 9,375 eligible to vote for the 96th Oscars scheduled for March 10, 2024.

New Members of the Academy:

Keke Palmer, Taylor Swift, Austin Butler, The Weeknd, Stephanie Hsu, Ram Charan, N.T. Ramo Rao Jr., Ke Huy Quan, David Byrne, The Daniels, Nicholas Hoult, Lashana Lynch, Selma Blair, Kerry Condon, Paul Reiser and Chang Chen. pic.twitter.com/AU4tcapvjW

— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 28, 2023

The class of 2023 demonstrates the Academy's commitment to achieving gender parity and representation.

• Notably, 40% of the invitees are women.
• Additionally, 34% of the invitees belong to underrepresented ethnic and racial communities, and 52% hail from 51 countries and territories outside the United States.

The Academy's invitation of Indian members and invitees represents a significant recognition of the talent and contributions of the Indian film industry. The inclusion of Indian members in the Academy showcases the growing global impact of the Indian film industry, especially in the wake of last year’s RRR taking the awards circuit by storm and wowing the West.

ALSO SEE: Oscars 2023: An illustrated summary

Renowned figures such as Mani Ratnam, Shaunak Sen, Chaitanya Tamhane, Karan Johar, and Siddharth Roy Kapur have received invitations to become members of the Academy. The inclusion of these Indian members not only showcases the artistic prowess of Indian filmmakers but also promotes cross-cultural exchange and dialogue within the film industry. 

ALSO READ: Oscar rules for foreign film entries are changing, and it might prevent a RRR vs Chhello Show-type situation

Moreover, the Academy has acknowledged the achievements of previous Oscar nominees and winners from various backgrounds. Notable invitees include Austin Butler, Paul Mescal, Stephanie Hsu, Kerry Condon, Ke Huy Quan, James Friend, MM Keeravani, Chandrabose, Sabu Cyril, KK Senthil Kumar, Ram Charan, and NT Rama Rao Jr.

The Academy's commitment to inclusivity extends beyond artists and filmmakers to professionals in other fields crucial to the film industry. The invitee list features a diverse range of global talents, including actors Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, Raúl Castillo, and Rosa Salazar, director Joseph Kosinski, screenwriters Kazuo Ishiguro and Charlotte Wells, and marketing and public relations experts like Kelly Dalton and Antonio Gimenez-Palazon.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang expressed their pride in welcoming these new members, emphasising their significant contributions to the arts and sciences of motion pictures and their impact on movie fans worldwide. 

In terms of gender and racial diversity, several branches of the Academy have made notable progress.

• Casting directors, costume designers, makeup artists and hairstylists, and marketing and public relations branches have invited more women than men.
• Furthermore, the Actors and Directors branches have invited a significant number of candidates from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities.

To know more about how The Academy and the rest of the awards circuit functions, have a look at: How To Win An Oscar

The invitation process also highlighted the talent and versatility of certain filmmakers.

• Eight individuals, including Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Colm Bairéad, Edward Berger, Antonio Campos, Lukas Dhont, Ana Katz, and Santiago Mitre, have received invitations across multiple branches. However, they can only select one branch upon accepting membership.

This recent round of invitations follows the Academy's efforts in 2022 to diversify its membership.

• Last year, 397 new members were invited, including singer Billie Eilish, Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, and Disney executive Dana Walden.
• The ongoing efforts to increase representation have resulted in the Academy becoming 34% women, 18% from underrepresented communities, and 20% from outside the United States.

The inclusivity and diversity push comes after a series of accusations calling the Oscars 'so white', with #OscarsSoWhite taking the top slot among trends online every time there's a significant Academy announcement leaving out underrepresented groups.