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Ariana Grande, Kieran Culkin, Jimmy Kimmel among 534 invited to join Oscars academy

BBG News

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), responsible for the Oscars, is expanding its voting members once more by welcoming a sparkling array of newcomers such as pop sensation Ariana Grande, freshly crowned Oscar winner Kieran Culkin, and long-time talk show hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O’Brien who have previously hosted the Oscars.

On a Thursday disclosure, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled 534 fresh members spread across its 19 divisions. This year’s roster encompasses Oscar nominees, behind-the-scenes artists, and emerging global talents – such as “Wicked” actress Grande; “Succession” actor Culkin, who secured a supporting actor Oscar for “A Real Pain”; and talk show hosts Kimmel, a four-time Oscar host, and O’Brien, who helmed the ceremony for the first time this year. The collective boasts 91 Oscar nominees and 26 winners, including Mikey Madison, who clinched the lead actress Oscar for “Anora”‘s best picture win. Madison’s co-stars Yura Borisov and Karren Karagulian were also extended membership in the actors’ branch.

The newest round of invitations demonstrates the academy’s continuous commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment, beyond achieving its diversity targets set after the #OscarsSoWhite movement. Out of the 2025 incoming members, 41% identify as women, 45% represent underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, and a significant 55% hail from countries outside the U.S. Among the entire membership body, 35% self-identify as female, 22% belong to underrepresented communities, and 21% work internationally.

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Following several years of swift growth, reaching an unprecedented new high with an incoming class of 928 in 2018, the institution has since opted for a more balanced approach to development. This year’s number, however, shows a modest uptick compared to the 487 students invited last year.

New entrants to the acting category, which is the academy’s largest, feature Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan from “The Apprentice,” who were both nominated for their portrayals of Roy Cohn and Donald Trump. Monica Barbaro (“A Complete Unknown”) also received a supporting actress nomination. Additionally, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Momoa, Jodie Comer, Dave Bautista, and Adriana Paz from “Emilia Pérez” are among the nominees. Notably, Karla Sofía Gascón of “Emilia Pérez,” who made history this year as the first openly transgender performer nominated for a lead role, did not receive an invitation this time around – a decision that follows recent criticism over past contentious comments.

This year’s new additions to the directors branch consist of Coralie Fargeat (“The Substance”), Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”), and Gints Zilbalodis, whose animated feature “Flow” won an Oscar. In the documentary branch, we have welcomed the team behind this year’s Academy Award-winning film “No Other Land”: Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor, who are Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers.

As a cinephile enthusiast speaking on behalf of our esteemed Academy, I’m delighted to extend this invitation to an extraordinary group of artists, technologists, and professionals. Their unwavering dedication to cinematography and the broader film industry has left indelible marks in our global community of filmmakers.

Accepting all invitations would lead to an increase in the academy’s total membership to 11,120, with the current voting members numbering 10,143 among them.

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2025-06-26 22:01

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