The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed its membership invitations for 2026, marking a notable shift in the composition of the Hollywood voting body. A total of 529 film professionals received invitations this year. While the total number is a slight decrease from last year, the selection reveals a clear institutional focus on international expansion and voting diversity. Crucially, East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) practitioners have secured significant placement across multiple branches, moving well beyond traditional international film categories into core creative and technical sectors.
The standard path to entry requires sponsorship from existing members, though any individual who receives an Oscar nomination automatically enters the selection pool. Final approval rests with the Board of Governors following a multi-tiered review process. This year, the incoming class comprises 42% women, 56% individuals from historically under-represented communities, and 53% international invitees representing 60 countries.
High Profile Actors and Directors Secure Invites
In the high-profile acting branch, Simu Liu, known globally for Marvel Studios productions and his work in Shang-Chi, leads the high-profile ESEA intake alongside veteran actor Kenneth Choi. Their inclusion signals an ongoing correction regarding how diaspora talent is valued within major studio distributions.
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The music branch features a major inclusion with South Korean-born singer and songwriter EJAE receiving an invitation. Known for her work on major animated features, EJAE joins the musical voting cohort alongside fellow composer Denise Okimoto. This adds significant representation to the department responsible for defining the auditory identity of global cinema.
The directing and writing branches show a similar expansion toward established continental directors. South Korean filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, whose career spans cult thriller classics and contemporary drama, received an invitation alongside Chinese director Guan Hu, fresh off recent festival success. Thai director Anocha Suwichakornpong was also invited to the directors branch, while South Korean screenwriter Lee Kyoung-mi and Japanese writer Satoko Okudera received invitations to the writers branch.
Technical and Post Production Branches See Major Shifts
The shift in voting power extends deeply into visual effects, sound, and animation, areas that dictate the technical development of global cinema. The animation branch in particular features a massive wave of ESEA names. Among the invitees are co-director Maggie Kang, designer Mingjue Helen Chen, and producer Michelle L.M. Wong, who all worked on the major animated feature KPop Demon Hunters. Japanese experimental animator Yoriko Mizushiri and French-Chinese animator Liane-Cho Han were also invited.
In the technical categories, where Western film professionals have historically dominated membership numbers, several key appointments were made:
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Cinematography: Ante Cheng, who filmed the acclaimed drama series Pachinko, was invited alongside high-profile South Korean cinematographer Kim Woo-hyung and American independent cinematographer Paul Yee.
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Sound: Veteran Japanese sound mixer Tetsuo Segawa, whose work includes the landmark animation Akira, joins South Korean mixer Kim Eun-jung and American specialist Ron Eng.
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Visual Effects: Charmaine Chan, recognised for her recent work on major studio franchise films, and Hong Kong-based specialist Clement Yip both received invitations.
Pipeline Preservation and Future Representation
Beyond the screen, the infrastructure supporting new talent relies heavily on industry gatekeepers. The executive, producer, and casting branches saw targeted invitations that ensure future projects by ESEA creators receive proper structural backing. Filipino-American casting executive Nicole Abellera, who handled the ensemble for the comedy Quiz Lady, and veteran Japanese casting director Yoko Narahashi were both brought into the Academy.
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On the financing and production side, Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara and Chinese producer Shan Zuolong received invitations. The short film branch, which often functions as the primary pipeline for emerging directors, added a substantial international cohort including Singaporean director Chiang Wei Liang, Malaysian director Mickey Lai, and Mongolian filmmaker Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir. These appointments ensure that the individuals who discover and fund early-career talent now hold voting power for the highest honours in international cinema.
