Highest Number of Arab Filmmakers Ever Among New Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited new members to join the prestigious institution and 12 of them are from Arab countries. This is the highest number of Arab filmmakers to be invited to the Academy. Everyone is impressed by the choice of invitees.

The academy invited 842 members from 59 countries, half of whom were women. The academy didn’t only reach gender parity in the new batch of inductees, but 29 percent of the members were people of color. 10 out of the 17 branches of the academy now have more women than men.

The Arabs that were inducted this year include the leading Egyptian actress Youssra, Egyptian director Amr Salama, Tunisian director Raja Amari, Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy, Lebanese writer Jihad Hojeily, and the Lebanese executive producer Georges Schoucair.

In the “Documentary” section, there was Syrian Talal Derki, Yemeni Khadija Al Salmi, and Egyptian Karim Amer. In “Short films and animation”, they invited Lebanese Cyril Aris, and in “Cinematography” they invited Chirstopher Aoun. Last but not least, Lebanese Hussein Beydoun was invited to “Production design”.

WE SAID THIS: The next academy awards will take place on the 9th of February.