Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt among 819 invited to Film Academy

LOS ANGELES: Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Alia Bhatt are among the 819 people who have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

This includes casting directors Nandini Shrikent and Tess Joseph, costume designer Neeta Lulla, documentary filmmakers Nishtha Jain and Amit Madheshiya, visual effects supervisors Vishal Anand and Sandeep Kamal and film score composer Nainita Desai.

The film academy published the list of new invitees as it continues to increase diversity among its ranks. Those who accept membership will have voting privileges at the 93rd Academy Awards which will be held on April 25, 2021.

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Other established names who have also been invited include filmmakers such as Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Ari Aster (Midsommar), actors Ana De Armas (Knives Out), Brian Tyree Henry (If Beale Street Could Talk), Florence Pugh (Little Women), Zendaya, John David Washington among others.

Out of the new invitees, 75 of them are Oscar nominees, while 15 have won the Academy Award in the past. Eight invitees have been asked to join the Academy by its multiple branches.

Once the invitee accepts membership, they are required to select only one branch of their choice. The Academy said that 49 percent of the invitees are international and represent a total of 68 countries.

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One of the major goals of the Academy has been to diversify its ranks. In 2016, the board sought to double its minority membership by 2020, an objective that they have successfully achieved. Women comprise 45 percent of the 2020 class, while 36 per cent of the new invitees are people of colour.

“We look forward to continuing to foster an Academy that reflects the world around us in our membership, our programs, our new Museum, and in our awards,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson in a statement.

This is also a landmark year for the Academy as it is the first time that the list of invitees also includes talent agent members.