Mexican celebrities who vote every year at the Oscars

At the 97th Academy Awards ceremony, at least 40 Mexicans will be part of the exclusive group of voters responsible for choosing the winners of the iconic golden statuette. Since 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the United States has worked to expand diversity and representation within its ranks, allowing professionals of the seventh art from different countries to join the process.

This measure was implemented after the controversy sparked by the #OscarSoWhite movement, which highlighted the lack of inclusion in the Academy and led to changes in its structure. Since then, a list of new invited members is published annually, who are selected after a process of recommendation, evaluation and subsequent approval. Those who accept the invitation must pay a membership fee that gives them access to exclusive events and the power to cast their vote in the various award categories.

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The first names of Mexicans included in the Academy were figures of great relevance, such as the late Silvia Pinal and Ignacio López Tarso, as well as filmmakers such as Patricia Riggen, Israel Cárdenas and Carlos Carrera. Over time, the representation of Mexico has grown significantly, adding Oscar winners such as Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón, Emmanuel Lubezki, Guillermo Navarro and Eugenio Caballero.

Among the voters are artists who have been nominated in previous editions, such as Felipe Fernández del Paso, production designer of “Frida.” In the acting field, several Mexican performers are part of this select group, including:

• Eiza Gonzalez
• Adriana Barraza
• Kate del Castillo
• Dolores Heredia
• Luis Gerardo Mendez
• Demian Bichir, who received a Best Actor nomination for his role in “A Better Life.”

However, Mexican participation in the Academy is not restricted to actors and directors. It also includes professionals from various branches of cinema, such as directors Luis Estrada (“El infierno”), Lila Avilés (“Tótem”) and Carlos López Estrada (“Raya y el último dragón”). In the field of photography direction, Damián García (“Andor”) and Dariela Ludlow (“Ruido”) stand out, as well as costume designers, producers and sound experts.

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National talent is also represented in the animation and short film categories. Filmmakers such as Karla Castañeda and Rita Basulto, who worked on Guillermo del Toro's “Pinocchio,” are featured. Makeup artists stand out Alfredo Mora, Maripaz Robles and David Ruiz Gameros, while Alejandro Reza stands out in the casting area. New members include Jesús Pimentel Melo, founder of Cine Qua Non Lab, and Daniela Michel, director of the Morelia International Film Festival.

The list of Mexican voters also includes prestigious names such as Michel Franco, Carlos Reygadas and Edher Campos, along with specialists in scriptwriting, production and production design. Among them are Bárbara Enríquez, Diego García, Martha Orozco, Marina Stavenhagen, Carlos Cuarón and Anna Terrazas, all with an outstanding career in the film industry.

BB