The African invitees come from Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria, representing a range of filmmaking disciplines.
By Adedamola Jones Adedayo
Nine African creatives and film professionals have been invited to join the 2026 class of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as part of a 529-member intake, in honour of their outstanding contributions to the motion picture industry. The invitees come from Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria, representing a range of filmmaking disciplines.
Among the invitees are three filmmakers of Egyptian heritage: Tarik Saleh, Mohamed Attia, and Ahmed Hafez. Saleh, a Swedish-born filmmaker and screenwriter of Egyptian descent, is recognised in the writers category for his acclaimed Cairo trilogy: The Nile Hilton Incident (2017), Cairo Conspiracy (2022), and Eagles of the Republic (2025). Attia is known for work as a production designer on The Blue Elephant (2014) and The Knower (2021); while Hafez, a film editor, has credits on Clash (2016) and El Sett (2025).
From Kenya, Peter Murimi, known for I Am Samuel (2020) and The Battle for Laikipia (2024), has been invited to join the Documentary branch.
Joining the Producers branch are Karim Aïtouna and Lamia Chraïbi, both Moroccan producers. Aïtouna is among the country’s most internationally recognised producers, with credits including Poisonous Roses (2018) and Where the Wind Comes From (2025). Chraïbi, a Franco-Moroccan producer, is known for films such as Mica (2020) and The End (2011).
Also invited are UK-born film professionals of Nigerian descent: Film director Akinola Davies Jr., actor Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, and costume designer PC Williams. Davies Jr. (Contactless (2018); Lizard (2020)) will join the Short Films branch; while Dìrísù (His House (2020); My Father’s Shadow (2025) and Williams (Polite Society (2023) and The Roses (2025)) are expected to join the Actors and Costume Design branches respectively.
Coincidentally, all three of them recently worked together on My Father’s Shadow, Davies Jr.’s UK-Nigeria co-production that became the UK’s Official Selection for the 2025 Oscars, with Williams serving as the production designer.
“We are delighted to invite this remarkable group of film artists and professionals from around the world to join the Academy,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor announced. “Through their commitment to filmmaking, this year’s exceptionally talented class has made significant contributions to our global movie industry.”
The Academy’s 2026 invited class includes 95 Oscar nominees, among them two winners, as well as three recipients of Scientific and Technical Awards. Membership invitations are extended based on professional qualifications, with an emphasis on representation, inclusion, and equity. The 2026 class is composed of 42% women, 56% individuals from underrepresented communities, and 53% people from 60 countries and territories outside the United States. However, only those who accept their invitations will eventually become Academy members.