Assam filmmaker Rima Das invited to join Oscars Academy

GUWAHATI: Renowned National Award-winning filmmaker Rima Das from Assam has been invited to join the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

This invitation places her among 487 artists and executives worldwide selected for this honour, marking a significant milestone for a filmmaker from the Northeast.

The Academy members play a crucial role in various activities, including voting for the Oscars, thereby influencing one of the most prestigious awards in the film industry.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Rima Das said that she is honoured and thrilled to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Joining Das in this year’s notable Indian invitees are several eminent personalities: actor Shabana Azmi, director SS Rajamouli, cinematographer Ravi Varman, director Anand Kumar Tucker, costume designers Rama Rajamouli and Sheetal Sharma, documentary filmmakers Nisha Pahuja and Hemal Trivedi, producer Ritesh Sidhwani, and choreographer Prem Rakshith.

A self-taught filmmaker, Rima Das is no stranger to the Oscars, having her film Village Rockstars submitted as India’s official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2019.

Her latest feature film, Tora’s Husband, has also received international acclaim and won five trophies at the Filmfare Awards Assamese 2024.

Last year, the Academy extended invitations to 398 artists and executives, including prominent Indian figures like directors Mani Ratnam, Karan Johar, and Shaunak Sen; composer MM Keeravani, cinematographer KK Senthil Kumar, production designer Sabu Cyril, and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur.

The 2024 class is notable for its diversity, with 44% identifying as women, 41% belonging to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 56% hailing from 56 countries and territories outside the United States.

In comparison, last year’s class included 40% women and 34% from underrepresented communities, with 52% coming from 50 countries and territories outside the USA.