The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) welcomed on Wednesday new members from the United States and the world, including six Israelis. The academy announced that 487 film industry members have been invited to join, with Israeli individuals including directors Limor Shmila and Hamutal Zerem, animator Tal Kantor, producer Amit R. Gicelter, producer Maya Amsalem, and Palestinian actor and Israeli citizen Saleh Bakri.
The six join a prestigious list of filmmakers, including actresses Lily Gladstone, Jessica Alba, Sandra Huller, and Greta Lee among other famous individuals working in the film industry.
The most notable Israeli representation in the current batch of new Academy members is in the casting field. Shmila, 41, has made a name for herself as one of the leading casting directors in Israeli cinema, contributing to award-winning films. She has also recently ventured into directing, releasing two feature films. Hamutal Zerem joins the American Academy with credits for casting the Israeli films "Foxtrot," "Karaoke," "Road to Eilat," and "The Vanishing Soldier."
The Academy’s invitation to animator Tal Kantor and her producing partner Amit R. Gicelter comes after their joint project, the short film "Letter to a Pig," was among the five nominees for the 2024 Oscar awards in the animated film category.
Maya Amsalem's invitation also isn’t surprising considering the many productions she supports in her role as head of the London-based WestEnd Films, which she founded with Sharon Harel-Cohen. Through her successful production company, Amsalem, the partner of actor Lior Ashkenazi, supported Israeli creators like Joseph Cedar, Avi Nesher and Guy Nattiv in "Tatami," which he co-directed with Iranian actress Zahara Amir Ebrahimi.
Actor Saleh Bakri, 47, son of Mohammad Bakri, was born in Israel and even starred in Israeli films. He had since mainly turned to foreign productions, mainly in the Arab world. Among his notable appearances in recent years are the comedic drama "Wajib" by Annemarie Jacir, filmed in Nazareth and the international production "The Stranger's Case" by American director Brandt Andersen.