Film Academy President Responds to Oscars Diversity Criticism

Film academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in an interview Friday that she wants to see “greater cultural diversity” in the Oscar nominations, after widespread criticism this week over the homogeneity of the academy’s 2015 nominees.

Isaacs, the first black president (and third woman head) of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, discussed the backlash over this year’s nominees on Friday in an interview with the Associated Press. There are no women in this year’s directing and writing categories, and all 20 of this year’s acting contenders are white.

After the nominations were announced Thursday morning, the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite started trending on Twitter.

Isaacs said the academy has sought over the past few years to increase the diversity of its membership.

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“In the last two years, we’ve made greater strides than we ever have in the past toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization through admitting new members and more inclusive classes of members,” Boone Isaacs said. “And, personally, I would love to see and look forward to see a greater cultural diversity among all our nominees in all of our categories.”

“It matters that we pay attention to, again, the diversity of voice and opinion and experience, and that it doesn’t slide, it doesn’t slide anywhere except for forward,” said Boone Isaacs said.

Boone Isaacs said she was proud of this year’s nominees.

[AP]