6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Academy elects Haifaa Al-Mansour to Board of Governors
As a result of this election and the previously announced branch-elected 2025-2026 governors, the 55-member Board comprises 55% women and 31% from underrepresented communities.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has elected three new governors-at-large to its Board of Governors: Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour (Directors Branch), Effie T. Brown (Producers Branch) and Annie Chang (Production and Technology Branch, Science and Technology Council Chair). Each will begin a three-year term with the start of the Academy's 2025–2026 fiscal year.
Haifaa Al-Mansour rose to global recognition in 2012 with the release of Wadjda, the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first directed by a Saudi woman. Since then, she has become a prominent voice in international cinema and a sought-after television director in Hollywood, contributing to acclaimed series such as Archive 81, City of Fire, Tales of the Walking Dead and Bosch: Legacy. In 2019, her film The Perfect Candidate was selected as Saudi Arabia's official submission for Best International Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards, although it did not receive a nomination.
Joining her on the Board are Effie T. Brown, a producer known for championing inclusive storytelling, and Annie Chang, an expert in production technologies. The three new governors-at-large bring wide-ranging expertise and diverse perspectives to the Academy's leadership at a time when it is strengthening its global and industry outreach.
Academy President Janet Yang said: 'We're thrilled to welcome Haifaa, Effie and Annie to the Academy's Board of Governors. Their wealth of experiences, perspectives and dedication will be vital to our ongoing global and industry outreach efforts. I also thank my fellow at-large governors DeVon Franklin and Rodrigo García for their incredible leadership over the past six years.'
Governors-at-large, like the representatives elected from each of the Academy's 19 branches, may serve up to two three-year terms (consecutively or not), followed by a two-year break before becoming eligible for another two terms—capped at a lifetime maximum of 12 years. The Board is responsible for shaping the Academy's strategic direction, ensuring financial stability, and upholding its mission.
With this latest election and the newly confirmed branch-elected governors for 2025–2026, the Academy's 55-member Board now consists of 55% women and 31% individuals from underrepresented communities, reflecting ongoing efforts toward greater inclusivity and representation in the film industry.
