Academy invites 529 professionals, six Indians added

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 film professionals from around the world to join its membership, a group that includes six notable Indian artists. The invitations, announced on Thursday, June 25, 2026, extend the opportunity to vote in future Academy Awards to filmmaker and composer Vishal Bhardwaj, film editors Deepa Bhatia and A Sreekar Prasad, costume designer Eka Lakhani, casting director Dilip Shankar, and Disney animator Avneet Kaur.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement that they were delighted to invite this remarkable group, whose work has made significant contributions to the global movie industry. Membership in the Academy is considered a prestigious recognition, and those who accept the invitations will become eligible to participate in the Oscars nomination and voting process.

The broader list of 529 invitees includes 95 Oscar nominees, 21 of whom are winners, and three Scientific and Technical Award recipients. Prominent international figures invited this year include actors Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, Teyana Taylor, and Jon Bernthal. According to the Academy, if all invitees...