Sean Baker, Quan Named Chairs of Academy Theater Committee
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- Sean Baker and Samantha Quan were named co-chairs of the Academy's new Marquee Theater Committee, which reviews venue submissions and recommends theaters for the Academy Marquee Theater List.
- Baker won four Academy Awards in 2025 for "Anora," and Clockwork recently acquired distribution rights to his next project "Ti Amo!," which he described to Variety as "my love letter to the Italian sex comedies of the '60s and '70s."
- The Academy named additional chairs and vice chairs for its 2026-27 committees and affinity groups, each serving a one-year term aimed at advancing key initiatives and informing Academy policy.
- Branch Executive Committee chairs include Rita Wilson (Actors), Patricia Cardoso (Directors), Effie T. Brown (Producers), and Lesley Barber (Music), among others spanning all 19 branches and the Artist Representatives category.
- Affinity group leadership features Haifaa al-Mansour chairing the MENA & WANA Alliance, Guneet Monga as vice chair of the Asian Affinity Group, Chelsea Winstanley leading the Indigenous Alliance, and Andrew Ahn and Kimberly Reed co-chairing the LGBTQ+ Coalition.
- Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor and CEO Bill Kramer thanked the appointees, saying their "dedication helps advance our mission while ensuring that the Academy is well-positioned for the future."
Why it matters: The Marquee Theater Committee is new, meaning Baker and Quan are essentially defining which theaters the Academy recognizes — a gatekeeping role over which venues get the Academy's marquee designation. Baker's appointment comes weeks after his four-Oscar sweep for "Anora," giving a just-crowned best director meaningful influence over how the institution showcases exhibition venues. The broader slate also places notable international and underrepresented-community filmmakers in formal advisory roles for a one-year term.
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