Lena Dunham Image by Getty Images

By Anne Cohen June 28, 2013

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 276 new members to join its 16 branches.

The Hollywood Reporter noted that the list of actors invited to join includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jason Schwartzman, Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Oh, Danny Trejo, Chris Tucker, Emmanuelle Riva and Charles Grondin.

Lena Dunham will be joining the ranks of writers, while Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids,” “The Heat”) and Benh Zeitlin (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) will be added to the list of directors.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy president Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”

The Academy had been criticized in recent years for their somewhat restricted membership (read: old white males), and this year was particularly diverse. This can be partly explained by the fact that the quota system used by the Academy, which restricted the number of members that each branch could invite to replace members who retired or passed away, was abolished this year.

Despite the change, Koch said, “We did not change our criteria at all. Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn’t in the Academy but who deserved to be.”

For a full list of new members, click here.

.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount