Academy Welcomes New And Returning Voices To 2026-2027 Board Of Governors

Kris Bowers and Jean Tsien - Natasha Moustache/Stringer/Nicholas Hunt

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has established its Board of Governors for the 2026-2027 term, bringing together a broad range of professionals from across the film industry to help guide the organization's future. 

The Board of Governors serves as the Academy’s primary governing body, overseeing key areas such as membership policies, organizational governance, awards administration, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and long-term planning. Governors are elected by members of their respective Academy branches and play a crucial role in shaping the institution behind the Oscars.

The 2026-2027 Board includes the following members:

• Kris Bowers

• Effie T. Brown

• Patricia Cardoso

• Eduardo Castro

• Annie Chang

• Michael Goi

• Laura C. Kim

• Haifaa al-Mansour 

• Lou Diamond Phillips (returning member)

• Terilyn A. Shropshire

• Chris Tashima 

• Jean Tsien

• Kim Taylor-Coleman

• Guillermo del Toro

• Marlon West                                      

The new Board reflects the Academy’s continued effort to draw leadership from a wide range of filmmaking disciplines, including directing, producing, editing, visual effects, music, costume design, and executive leadership. The group also represents a mix of commercial and independent filmmaking backgrounds, with several members bringing international experience.

Among the most notable is Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, whose work on films such as The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Pinocchio, has made him one of the most influential creative voices in contemporary cinema. Saudi Arabian director Haifaa al-Mansour, widely recognized as a pioneering figure in Middle Eastern filmmaking, adds an important international perspective, while composer Kris Bowers has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed contemporary film and television composers. 

Returning governor Lou Diamond Phillips provides continuity as the Academy continues work on several-long term initiatives, including efforts to broaden membership representation, expand global engagement, and adapt governance policies to an increasingly international film industry. 

The Board’s decisions can have a lasting impact on the Academy’s direction. In recent years, Academy leadership has overseen updates to award eligibility rules, diversity initiatives, and planning related to the organization's educational and cultural programs. As a result, the composition of the Board is closely watched across the film industry, with governors helping shape both the institution itself and the future of the Oscars.

With a mix of established industry leaders, craft specialists, and internationally recognized filmmakers, the 2026-2027 Board reflects the Academy’s ongoing effort to represent the evolving landscape of global cinema.