A number of Arab figures have been invited to join this year’s class at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Out of the 819 invitations extended by the Academy, 45% of them have been allocated to women and 36% to underrepresented minorities. Read on for some of the newly-invited personalities who hail from the region.
Ahmad Saleh
The Saudi writer and filmmaker, who lives in Germany, holds a master’s degree in film from the Academy of Media Arts Cologne.Khaled Mouzanar
The Lebanese composer and songwriter has composed the scores for his wife Nadine Labaki’s films, including “Caramel,” “Where Do We Go Now?” and “Capernaum.”Mai Masri
The Amman-born filmmaker is known for her documentaries that focus on the real-life struggles of men and women living in occupied Palestinian territories.Tarak Ben Ammar
An international film producer and distributor, the Tunisian-born entrepreneur is known for his work on “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and The Last Legion.”Meryam Joobeur
The Tunisian-American filmmaker’s short film “Brotherhood” received an Oscar nomination in the short-live action category.Najwa Najjar
Best known for her film “Pomegranates and Myrrh,” the Palestinian-Jordanian director has enjoyed significant success at numerous film festivals around the world.
