The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, also known as the Oscars, has selected Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele; film director, Blessing Egbe, actor, Daniel K. Daniel among others as members of the 2022 class.
The academy stated this in a release on Tuesday, inviting 397 artistes and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.
Funke got recognitions for Omo Ghetto: The Saga and Jenifa, Daniel K. Daniel; A Soldier’s Story and Fugitive and Blessing Egbe for African Messiah.
Also selected are Reed Birney, Gaby Hoffman, Jamie Dornan, Vincent Lindon, Troy Kotsur, Selton Mello, Joanna Scanlan, Marco Rodriguez, Ariana DeBose and Jessie Buckley.
The invitees will be allowed voting privileges at the upcoming Oscars if they accept the invites.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed a new breakdown of the new invitees representing 54 countries. 44 percent are women, 37 percent are non-white and 50 percent are non-Americans.
“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 397 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures including newly minted Oscar winners and nominees like Ariana DeBose, Troy Kotsur, Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee on the actors side with Drive My Car witer/director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Best Picture winner CODA’s Sian Harries Heder being invited to both the directing and the writing branch.
“Those individuals (noted by an asterisk) that have been invited to join the Academy by multiple branches. These individuals must select one branch upon accepting membership,” the statement read.
The Academy admitted Ramsey Nouah Jr., Mo Abudu and U.S based director Andrew Dosummu into the class of 2021.
In 2018, actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Wunmi Mosaku, Femi Odugbemi and Ngozi Onwurah were extended invites and they were also among artistes to determine winners of the Oscar in 2019.
