OSCARS FILM ACADEMY? : ALIA - HRITHIK

Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt and Hrithik Roshan are among the artists and executives who have received invitations to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences [AMPAS] this year, reported Variety.

The 2020 invitees also include costume designer Neeta Lulla, documentary director Nishtha Jain [Gulabi Gang, Lakshmi and Me], writer Sabrina Dhawan [Kaminey, Monsoon Wedding]-

Casting director Nandini Shrikent [Gully Boy, Life of Pi] and Tess Joseph ]Lion], visual effects artists Vishal Anand [War, Bharat], Sanddep Kamal [Panipat, Jall], and V Senthi Kimar, the co-founder of the digital streaming company Qube Cinema Technologies.

With the new list, the Academy continues its work on increasing diversity. If all the invitees accept their invitations, it would bring the total membership to 9,412.

In turn, that would mean that 45% of the new members will be women and 36% will be from underrepresented ethnic/racial communities. International makeup is 49% from 68 countries.

Those who accept the invitation will have voting rights at the 93rd Academy Awards. ''The Academy is delighted to welcome these distinguished fellow travellers in the modern 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,'' president David Rubin said in a statement.

The 2020 batch also boasts of Hollywood names like Cynthia Erivo, John David Washington, Constance Wu, Zazie Beetz, Florence Pugh, Zendaya, Awkwafina, Yalitza Aparicio, Mackezie Davis, Ana de Armas, Adele Haenel, Thomasin McKenzie, Olivia Wilde and others.

The stars of multiple Oscar-winning South Korean film Parasite , Jang Hye-Jin, Jo-YooJeong, Park So-Dam and Lee Jung-Eun, are also invited to join the Academy.

Directors Lulu Wang, Ari Aster, Terence Davies, Matthew Vaughn, Robert Eggers, Matt Reeves, Alma Har'el are on the list as well.

In 2016, the Academy promised to at least double the number of women and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities this year. ''Through dedicated and intentional work by the Board of Governors and members on the branch executive committees, the Academy has surpassed both these goals,'' it said.

Now, the Academy wants to advance inclusion and representation in membership and the film community, as part of the goal till 2025.

''We take great pride in the strides we have made in exceeding our initial inclusion goals set back in 2016, but acknowledge the road ahead is a long one,'' CEO Dawn Hudson said.

''We are committed to staying the course. I cannot give enough thanks to all our members and staff who worked on the A2020 initiative and to our head of Member Relations and Awards, Lorenza Munoz, for her leadership and passion.

We look forward to continuing to foster an Academy that reflects the world around us.''

The World Students Society thanks News Desk : The Express Tribune.