Four Belgian directors to join Oscar academy

Four Belgian filmmakers have been invited to join the prestigious American Oscar academy, writes De Morgen. Directors Dominique Deruddere (pictured), Sahim Omar Kalifa, Marie-Hélène Dozo and cinematographer Jo Willems yesterday received an invitation in the mail from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to join the organisation which is best known for the Oscars, reports the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF).

For several years, AMPAS has regularly invited Belgian filmmakers to join the academy, including technician Nico Leunen (The Broken Circle Breakdown, Belgica, Kid) and the directors Michael R. Roskam (Bullhead) and Felix van Groeningen (The Broken Circle Breakdown).

The AMPAS list this year includes 683 new members, 283 of which are non-American filmmakers from 59 countries.