In a statement, the Academy — comprised of approximately 10,500 members worldwide across 19 technical branches — announced that invitations had been extended to “artists and executives distinguished by their contributions to cinema.”
“Through their commitment to cinematic creation and the film industry at large, these exceptionally talented individuals have made indelible contributions to our global community,” stated the Academy’s CEO, Bill Kramer, and its president, Janet Yang, as cited in the announcement.
The list of 534 invitees includes several figures from Brazilian cinema, such as actress Fernanda Torres, costume designer Claudia Kopke, directors Daniel Filho and Gabriel Mascaro, and producer Maria Carlota Bruno.
Spanish filmmaker Albert Serra, known for his Portuguese co-productions, is also on the invite list.
Miguel Gomes joins a select group of Portuguese previously invited, including casting director Patrícia Vasconcelos, producers Bruno Caetano and Luís Urbano, and directors Abi Feijó, João González, Mónica Santos, and Regina Pessoa.
Born 53 years ago in Lisbon, Miguel Gomes has showcased Portuguese cinema and its portrayals of Portugal internationally, winning over critics and festival juries alike.
Last year, with the film ‘Grand Tour’, he won the best director award at the Cannes festival, a first for a Portuguese filmmaker.
Miguel Gomes has received numerous accolades at international festivals, notably the Critics’ Prize at the Berlin Festival for ‘Tabu’ (2012), the co-awarded best director prize at the Mar del Plata Festival (Argentina) with ‘Diários de Otsoga’ (2021), and the special jury prize in Guadalajara (Mexico) for ‘Aquele querido mês de agosto’ (2009).
His upcoming film, produced by Uma Pedra no Sapato, is titled ‘Selvajaria’ and draws inspiration from the book ‘Sertões’ by Brazilian writer Euclides da Cunha, which Miguel Gomes regards as “one of the greatest books ever written in Portuguese.”
