Los Angeles — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said on Monday that it has swelled its ranks by a record 928 members, as part of its drive for a more inclusive Hollywood. The Oscar-awarding body announces a round of invitations every year, and has been bolstering its ethnically diverse and female representation following criticism over its predominantly white, male membership. More than a third of the list — drawn from 59 countries — are people of colour, while about half are women, bringing the female proportion of the Academy up from 25% in 2015 to 31%. The proportion of people of colour doubled in the same period, but started from a low bar of just 8%. The recruits include 17 Oscar winners and 92 nominees, including Timothée Chalamet, Kumail Nanjiani, Daniela Vega and Yance Ford. "Aggressively expanding the palette of perspectives within the 90-year-old organisation’s ranks is the goal," said Variety’s awards editor Kristopher Tapley. "Nine hundred twenty-eight new ...

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