The Chinese movie industry will have a greater influence on the Academy Awards in the future, said Janet Yang, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, renowned for its annual Oscars.
“I think it’s just a matter of time when more Chinese films are recognized internationally and at the Oscars,” Yang, who is fluent in Mandarin, told China Daily.
She stressed the need for Chinese movies to bridge cultural gaps and highlight talent to global audiences. She sees Chinese cinema continuing to gain recognition globally, with more breaking through at the Oscars, which will hold its 96th awards ceremony on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
“I have noticed that the quality of Chinese cinema has progressed by leaps and bounds over the past few decades. It’s been very exciting and encouraging to witness,” Yang said. “The most important thing is for these stories to connect with a global audience.”
Yang, the 36th president of the academy, holds a significant place in Hollywood history. She is the first person of Asian descent, the second person of color, and the fourth woman to hold the influential position. Yang follows such Hollywood luminaries who held the post, such as Douglas Fairbanks, Frank Capra, Bette Davis, George Stevens, Gregory Peck, Robert Wise and Karl Malden.
Yang has been named one of the “50 most powerful women in the Hollywood” by The Hollywood Reporter.
Yang was born in New York City to Chinese immigrant parents. She ignited her passion for her Chinese heritage as a teenager. When Yang chose to work and live in Beijing after college in the 1980s, her eyes were open to a whole other universe of cultural creators. In particular, she “fell in love” with a group of movie-makers who were being nurtured at a movie studio in…
Read the full article here
