Guillermo del Toro, Kris Bowers and More Elected to Expanded 60-Member Film Academy Board of Governors

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the newly elected Board of Governors for the 2026-2027 term, expanding the group to 60 members. Newly elected members include Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro and composer Kris Bowers, joining returning incumbents like Lou Diamond Phillips and Hannah Minghella. The expansion follows a bylaws amendment allowing three branch-elected governors per Academy branch, adding seats to Animation, Production and Technology, and Short Films branches. Among those reelected are Lou Diamond Phillips (Actors Branch), Jinko Gotoh (Animation Branch), and Wendy Aylsworth (Production and Technology Branch). New additions include del Toro (Directors Branch), Michael Goi (Cinematographers Branch), and Kris Bowers (Music Branch). Returning after a hiatus are Bonnie Arnold (Animation Branch), Roger Ross Williams (Documentary Branch), and Paul Debevec (Visual Effects Branch). The expansion introduced staggered terms for the newly added seats, with governors in Animation, Production and Technology, and Short Films branches serving one-, two-, or three-year terms. This adjustment ensures a smoother transition back to the standard one-governor-per-branch, three-year cycle in 2027. Governors such as Fred Berger (Producers Branch) and Kim Magnusson (Short Films Branch) were elected to shorter terms to accommodate the change. The new board reflects a diverse composition, with 47% women and 32% members from underrepresented communities, based on self-reporting. Governors may serve up to two consecutive three-year terms, followed by a two-year hiatus before renewing eligibility for additional terms, with a lifetime maximum of 12 years. The changes aim to enhance representation and governance within the Academy’s leadership structure.