The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its newly elected Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term.
The new board includes new faces such as director Guillermo del Toro and composer Chris Bowers, returning incumbents such as actor Lou Diamond Phillips and executive Hannah Minghella, and familiar faces returning from hiatus such as animation and documentary legends Bonnie Arnold and Roger Ross Williams.
The new terminology also brings about structural changes. Under the proposed bylaw amendments approved by the Academy’s Board of Directors in February, all 19 Academy chapters will each have three chapter-elected governors, with additional seats in Animation, Production/Technology, and Short Film chapters. This change adds five chapter-elected seats to the Board of Directors, bringing the total number of industry members to the Academy’s key group to 60. To stagger term limits, governors in these three branches will be elected for one-, two-, or three-year terms this year, with a return to the standard three-year cycle of one governor per branch in 2027.
Among the incumbents who were re-elected to serve another term are Phillips (Actors), Jinko Goto (Animation), Daniel Orlandi (Costume Designer), Minghella (Management), David Dinerstein (Marketing and Public Relations), Wendy Aylesworth (Production and Technology), Karina Ivanov (Production Design), Mark P. Steckinger (Sound), and Dana. Stevens (Writers Brunch).
New first-time board members include Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro (director), Michael Goy (cinematographer), Anne Grouseau (film editor), Patricia DeHaney (make-up artist and hair stylist), composer Chris Bowers (music), Fred Berger (producer), Vic Armstrong (production and technology), and David Leitch (production and technology). Brunch) and Kim Magnuson (short film Brunch).
Returning to the board after a hiatus are Bonnie Arnold (Animation), Bernard Telsey (Casting Director), Roger Ross Williams (Documentary), Bob Rogers (Short Films), and Paul Debebec (Visual Effects).
Due to expansion, several governors had their terms shortened. In the animation category, Mr. Arnold was elected to a three-year term and Mr. Goto was elected to a one-year term. Mr. Aylesworth will work for three years in the production and technology department, Mr. Armstrong for two years and Mr. Leach for one year. In the short film category, Mr. Magnuson was selected for three years and Mr. Rogers for two years.
They join continuing governors Pam Abdi, Haifaa Al Mansour, Leslie Barber, K. K. Barrett, Dion Beebe, Jason Blum, Brooke Brereton, Effie T. Brown, Carter Burwell, Paul Cameron, Patricia Cardoso, Eduardo Castro, Annie Chan, Peter Devlin, Jennifer Fox, Chris Hegedus, Richard Hicks, Larry Karaszewski and Laura. C. Kim, Christina Kounellias, Peter Kujoski, Marley Matlin, Isis Mussenden, Andy Nelson, Missy Parker, Gerald Quist, Jason Reitman, Nancy Richardson, Andrew Roberts, Howard A. Rodman, Teryn A. Shropshire, Chris Tashima, Kim Taylor-Coleman, Gene Tsien, Marlon West, Gigi Williams, Rita Wilson.
As a result of the election, the board is comprised of 47% women and 32% members of underrepresented communities, based on self-reporting.
Governors, including all governors elected by the Board of Directors, may serve up to two three-year terms, consecutive or non-consecutive, with a two-year break, after which their eligibility may be renewed for two additional terms, up to a lifetime maximum of 12 years. Governors elected in the 2026 branch elections whose terms are less than three years will not count toward these limits.
Another amendment approved earlier this year would allow sitting academy presidents to be re-elected for up to four consecutive one-year terms, even if a recess is required, and they would serve as ex-officio governor until the end of their terms.
The Board of Directors sets the Academy’s strategic vision, maintains its financial health, and ensures the achievement of its mission. Governors take office at the first scheduled board meeting of a new term.
The Board of Directors recently announced the winners of the 17th Annual Governor’s Awards. Honorary Oscars will be presented to veteran actress Glenn Close, legendary director Ridley Scott, and Disney’s first black animator Floyd Norman, while producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, longtime champions of independent film, will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.
