This week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization that awards the Oscars) invited a new group of filmmakers to join its ranks.

In addition to names like Gemma Chan, Sterling K. Brown, Tom Holland and Lady Gaga, there are 17 new invitees who have presented their films at the Maryland Film Festival – see them below!

This year, 50% of the invitees are women. Congratulations to all!

Documentary Filmmakers

  • Steve Bognar — AMERICAN FACTORY (’19)
  • PJ Raval — BEFORE YOU KNOW IT (’13)
  • Alexandra Shiva — THIS IS HOME: A Refugee Story (’18)
  • Miao Wang — MAINELAND (’17), BEIJING TAXI (’10)
  • Michelle M. Witten —- WHEEDLE’S GROOVE (’09), BAD BOY OF BOWLING (’15)
  • Matt Wolf — RECORDER: THE MARION STOKES PROJECT (’19)
  • Farihah Zaman — (REMOTE AREA MEDICAL (’13), GHOSTS OF SUGAR LAND (’19)

Writers:

  • Desiree Akhavan — THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST, APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
  • Anna Biller — THE LOVE WITCH (’16), VIVA (’07)
  • Andrew Bujalski — FUNNY HAHA (’03), MUTUAL APPRECIATION (’05), COMPUTER CHESS (’13)
  • Sara Colangelo — LITTLE ACCIDENTS (’14)
  • Josephine Decker — MADELINE’S MADELINE (’18), COLLECTIVE: UNCONSCIOUS (’16), THOU WAST MILD AND LOVELY (’14), BUTTER ON THE LATCH (’13), ME THE TERRIBLE (’12)
  • Eliza Hittman — BEACH RATS (’17), IT FELT LIKE LOVE (’13)

Short Films and Feature Animation Filmmakers

  • Terence Nance — THEY CHARGE FOR THE SUN (’17)
  • Lauren Wolkstein — THE STRANGE ONES (’11 & ’17), SOCIAL BUTTERFLY (’13), COLLECTIVE: UNCONSCIOUS (’16)

Producers

  • Mollye Asher — FORT TILDEN (’14)
  • David Hinojosa — FIRST REFORMED (’18)