Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has accused the Academy Awards of "moving in the wrong direction" amid controversy over lack of diversity. For the second year running, no black or minority actors have been nominated in the four Oscars acting categories.
Star Wars actress Lupita Nyong'o also said she is "disappointed by the lack of inclusion" in the nominations. Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs vowed to review its membership as stars pledged to boycott the ceremony.
'Calling for change'
Clooney, who has won two Academy Awards, said: "We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it." Nyong'o, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for 12 Years a Slave in 2014, wrote on Instagram that she stands with those "calling for change" and that the awards should be a "diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today".
Director Spike Lee, who was awarded an honorary Oscar in November, is among those boycotting the ceremony, saying on Instagram that he "cannot support" the "lily white" Oscars.
Jada Pinkett Smith has also refused to attend because of the number of white nominees, saying in a video message on Facebook that people of colour should disregard the awards.
Oscars to honor Indian technician
Oscars, also called Academy Awards felicitates the best talent in films, not just for Hollywood, but for International films also. It’s more like a dream and target for any passionate filmmaker, actor or any technician to grab at-least one Golden statue in their lifetime. This year, academy awards will be honoring an Indian origin technician Rahul Thakkar with Oscar of Technical achievement Award for his works and contribution with "Groundbreaking design".
Rahul Thakkar will be awarded Oscar during annual scientific and Technical Awards presentation on February 13th along with 9 other technical achievement award winners. The Academy will be honouring all other awardees on February 28th, the grand event of Oscar awards 2016.
Its a rare yet proud honour for an Indian origin and though India sends an official entry every year to academy awards, none of them have seen the golden statue for Best Foreign film category. But films with Indian theme have given chance for Indians to grab some of these, in the likes of Gandhi and Sludog millionaire.
Famous musician AR Rahman and legendary writer Gulzar won Oscars for their 'Jai Ho' song in Slumdog Millionaire in Nest Original Song category. Legendary filmmaker Satyajit ray was awarded Oscar for lifetime achievement in 1992 for his vision on cinema. Satyajit Ray accepted the award from his hospital bed, as he was ill during then. Resul Pookutty, who worked for Slumdog Millionaire as sound editor was awarded Greatest Sound Mixing award at Oscars.
