American producer Janet Yang has been chosen as the new president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Oscars each year, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Known for having produced the films The lucky club in 1993 and larry flint in 1996, Ms. Yang became the fourth woman elected to this position and the first of Asian descent.
Academy chief executive Bill Kramer has praised the acclaimed producer’s work in the areas of recruitment and inclusion, as the Oscars have come under heavy criticism in recent years for their lack of diversity.
The Academy, based in Los Angeles, is made up of film professionals from 17 branches of the industry (actors, hairdressers, costume designers, editors, producers, directors, screenwriters, etc.).
Its members vote each year to designate the winners of the Oscars, the most prestigious awards in the film industry.
In the face of controversy, the Academy announced in 2016 that it wanted to double the number of women and people from ethnic minorities among its members by 2020, a commitment that it confirms that it has kept.
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