Sean Baker, Samantha Quan Lead New Academy Theater Committee
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- AMPAS appointed chairs and vice chairs for its 2026-2027 committees and affinity groups, with every position carrying a one-year term.
- Sean Baker (four-time Oscar winner) and his wife Samantha Quan (Oscar winner) were named co-chairs of the newly formed Academy Marquee Theater Committee, which reviews submissions and recommends theaters for the Academy's list of outstanding motion picture theaters worldwide.
- Michèle Ohayon and James Wilson were named co-chairs of the International Feature Film Executive Committee, which oversees awards rules and eligibility for the Oscars International Feature Film category.
- Rita Wilson chairs the Actors Branch Executive Committee, Effie T. Brown leads the Producers Branch, and Lesley Barber heads the Music Branch, among 19 branch-level executive committees.
- Haifaa al-Mansour chairs the MENA & WANA Alliance, Chelsea Winstanley leads the Indigenous Alliance, and Guneet Monga serves as vice chair of the Asian Affinity Group, spanning nine affinity groups focused on underrepresented communities.
- Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor and CEO Bill Kramer praised the new chairs' leadership, saying their dedication "helps advance our mission while ensuring that the Academy is well-positioned for the future."
Why it matters: The Baker/Quan appointment embeds two acclaimed filmmakers into the committee curating AMPAS's global theater recognition list, formalizing theatrical exhibition as an Academy priority. The one-year rotation across 19 branch committees and nine affinity groups concentrates gatekeeping power over Oscar categories, eligibility rules, and membership policy in newly rotated hands.
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