Academy CEO Bill Kramer Highlights Internationalization Efforts While Speaking at Rio Film Fest, Says ‘I’m Still Here’ Furore ‘Increased’ the Academy’s ‘Prestige’
Key Takeaways
- Academy CEO Bill Kramer visited Brazil for the first time to speak at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.
- Kramer emphasized the Academy's successful internationalization efforts, noting 20% of its membership is now international.
- The visit followed Brazil's recent Oscar success with Walter Salles’s “I’m Still Here,” which Kramer celebrated for boosting the Academy's prestige.
- Kramer highlighted massive social media engagement and support from Brazil following Oscar events, validating the Academy's global focus.
- The CEO concluded his remarks by evoking the 'Casablanca' quote, signaling a strong future relationship between the Academy and the Rio Film Festival.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer traveled to Brazil for the first time to speak at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, marking a significant official visit to a country gaining global cinematic power, recently crowned by an Oscar win for Walter Salles’s “I’m Still Here.” Kramer expressed deep excitement over the worldwide joy surrounding Salles’s film and Fernanda Torres’s nominations, stating this increased the Academy’s prestige. He used the platform to underscore the organization's internationalization efforts, noting that 20% of the 11,000+ members reside outside the U.S., with 60 members currently in Brazil. Kramer also discussed the flexibility of international film production locations, citing Rio as a viable option. He further noted the historic engagement seen on Academy social media channels following Brazilian Oscar moments, which validated their global outreach goals. Concluding his masterclass, Kramer expressed hope for a continued strong relationship with the Rio Film Festival, calling it the "beginning of a beautiful friendship."
