Film Academy Announces New Chairs and Vice Chairs for Committees and Affinity Groups

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the newly appointed chairs and vice chairs for its committees and affinity groups, including the Marquee Theater Committee.

The Academy's committees and affinity groups bring together members to advance key initiatives, inform Academy policy and programs, and serve the interests of its membership. All chairs and vice chairs serve one-year terms.

The Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor and Academy CEO Bill Kramer expressed their gratitude to all the chairs and vice chairs for their leadership and engagement across the Academy's work. They stated, "Their dedication helps advance our mission while ensuring that the Academy is well-positioned for the future."

## New Chairs and Vice Chairs for Committees and Affinity Groups

The Academy has appointed new chairs and vice chairs for its committees and affinity groups. Here are some of the key appointments:

### Marquee Theater Committee

The Marquee Theater Committee reviews submissions and recommends theaters for inclusion on the Academy Marquee Theater List. The new co-chairs of the committee are:

* Sean Baker (Directors Branch) * Samantha Quan (Producers Branch)

### International Feature Film Executive Committee

The International Feature Film Executive Committee oversees the awards rules, submission requirements, and eligibility of the Oscars International Feature Film category. The new co-chairs of the committee are:

* Michèle Ohayon (Documentary Branch) * James Wilson (Producers Branch)

### Short Films Qualifying Festivals Selection Committee

The Short Films Qualifying Festivals Selection Committee determines festival eligibility criteria and reviews global applications to select which festivals and awards should be deemed Oscar-qualifying in the animated, documentary, and live action short film categories. The new chair of the committee is:

* Summer Joy Main-Muñoz (Short Films Branch)

### Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee

The Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee reviews submissions and makes recommendations for individuals and companies to receive Scientific and Technical Awards. The new co-chairs of the committee are:

* Darin Grant (Visual Effects Branch) * Rachel Rose (Visual Effects Branch)

## Membership Committees

The Academy has also appointed new chairs and vice chairs for its membership committees. Here are some of the key appointments:

### Branch and Category Executive Committees

The Branch and Category Executive Committees oversee branch-and category-related business, including awards rules, eligibility, and the review of candidates considered for Academy membership. Here are the new chairs of the committees:

| Branch/Categories | Chairs | | --- | --- | | Actors Branch | Rita Wilson | | Animation Branch | Marlon West | | Casting Directors Branch | Kim Taylor-Coleman | | Cinematographers Branch | Paul Cameron | | Costume Designers Branch | Daniel Orlandi | | Directors Branch | Patricia Cardoso | | Documentary Branch | Jean Tsien | | Executives Branch | Pam Abdy | | Film Editors Branch | Terilyn A. Shropshire | | Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch | Gerald Quist | | Marketing and Public Relations Branch | Laura C. Kim | | Music Branch | Lesley Barber | | Producers Branch | Effie T. Brown | | Production and Technology Branch | Annie Chang | | Production Design Branch | Kalina Ivanov | | Short Films Branch | Chris Tashima | | Sound Branch | Andy Nelson | | Visual Effects Branch | Brooke Breton | | Writers Branch | Howard A. Rodman |

### International Engagement Committee

The International Engagement Committee helps guide global Academy membership initiatives, promoting connectivity among members worldwide. The new chair of the committee is:

* Peter Devlin (Sound Branch)

### London Committee

The London Committee provides advice and guidance on UK member screenings and special events. The new chair of the committee is:

* Maggie Todd (Marketing and Public Relations Branch)

### New York Committee

The New York Committee provides advice and guidance on New York member screenings and special events. The new chair of the committee is:

* Mia Neal (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch)

## Membership Affinity Groups

The Academy has also appointed new chairs and vice chairs for its membership affinity groups. Here are some of the key appointments:

### Academy Affinity Groups

The Academy Affinity Groups bring together members from shared backgrounds and affinities, with a focus on underrepresented and marginalized communities. They offer guidance on membership, awards, and programming while fostering community and promoting networking and educational opportunities. Here are the new chairs and vice chairs of the groups:

| Affinity Group | Chairs | Vice Chairs | | --- | --- | --- | | Asian Affinity Group | Stephanie Lowry (Music Branch) | Guneet Monga (Producers Branch) | | Black Caucus | Taura Stinson (Music Branch) | Renard T. Jenkins (Production and Technology Branch) | | Disability & Accessibility | Àlex Lora (Short Films Branch) | No vice chair mentioned | | Indigenous Alliance | Chelsea Winstanley (Producers Branch) | No vice chair mentioned | | Jewish Heritage Affinity Group | Howard Berger (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch) | Steven Raphael (Marketing and Public Relations Branch) | | La Agenda | Carlos López Estrada (Directors Branch) | Carla Gutiérrez (Documentary Branch) | | LGBTQ+ Coalition | Andrew Ahn (Directors Branch) | Kimberly Reed (Documentary Branch) | | MENA & WANA Alliance | Haifaa al-Mansour (Directors Branch) | No vice chair mentioned | | Women’s Affinity Group | Edie Ichioka (Film Editors Branch) | Gennie Rim (Animation Branch) |

## Academy Foundation Committees

The Academy has also appointed new chairs and vice chairs for its Academy Foundation committees. Here are some of the key appointments:

### Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee

The Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee helps to ensure the Academy Museum experience is inclusive for all visitors by bringing diverse perspectives to programmatic discussions. The new chair of the committee is:

* Bird Runningwater (Production and Technology Branch)

### Student Academy Awards Executive Committee

The Student Academy Awards Executive Committee guides the direction of the Academy’s international college student filmmaking competition, including approving rules and setting standards for judging the films. The new chair of the committee is:

* Brooke Breton (Visual Effects Branch)

### Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Executive Committee

The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Executive Committee reads finalist screenplays for the Academy’s international program that supports emerging screenwriters and selects the recipients of the annual fellowships. The new chair of the committee is:

* Kim Taylor-Coleman (Casting Directors Branch)

### Science and Technology Council

The Science and Technology Council helps to guide Academy initiatives connected to scientific and technological standards and developments in filmmaking. The new chair of the committee is:

* Annie Chang (Production and Technology Branch)

The Academy has appointed new chairs and vice chairs for its committees and affinity groups, including the Marquee Theater Committee, which will be led by Sean Baker and Samantha Quan. The new appointments will help advance the Academy's mission and ensure that the organization is well-positioned for the future.