The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continues with a series of major announcements during the summer. The organisation has announced the presidents and vice presidents of its 2026-2027 committees and affinity groups, including recent Oscar winner Sean Baker and his partner, producer Samantha Quan, heading its new initiative to publish the Academy's Prestige Theatres List.
"As a member-led organisation, we are deeply grateful to all our presidents and vice presidents for their leadership and commitment to the work of the Academy," said in a statement Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor and Chief Executive Officer Bill Kramer. "Their dedication helps advance our mission while ensuring that the Academy is well positioned for the future".
The Academy's committees and affinity groups serve to bring members together to advance key initiatives, inform the Academy's policies and programmes and serve the interests of its membership. All presidents and vice presidents serve one-year terms.
The Academy's Prestige Theatres Committee reviews submissions and recommends cinema locations for inclusion on the Academy's Prestige Theatres List. Sean Baker from the Directors Branch and Samantha Quan from the Producers Branch co-chair the committee.
Among other committees announced are the International Film Executive Committee, which oversees the awards rules, submission requirements and eligibility for the Oscar's Non-English Language Film category; and the Short Film Qualifying Festival Selection Committee, which determines festival eligibility criteria and reviews global submissions to select which festivals should be considered Oscar qualifiers in the animated short film, documentary and live action short film categories.
