The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has promised sweeping reforms in an attempt to help diversify its membership, in the face of a major controversy over a second straight year of all-white Oscar acting nominations. The Academy’s board said on Friday it was taking “historic action” to double the number of women and members from minorities by 2020. “These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition,” said Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs. The changes were approved in a unanimous vote by the Academy’s board of governors on Thursday. – AFP
Grace on the bill for RedFestDXB
Australian urban star Grace has been added to the bill for next month's RedFestDXB festival. The singer is best known for breakout hit You Don't Own Me, a cover of the 1963 Lesley Gore song, produced by Quincy Jones and featuring G-Eazy. It topped the singles chart in Australia last year. Grace, whose surname is Sewell, will join Steve Aoki, Rita Ora and The Vamps on the festival's opening night on February 11. Now in its third year, the event is expected to attract more than 20,000 music fans to Dubai Media City Amphitheatre over two days. Adam Lambert, Fifth Harmony and Eva Simons will headline day two. For more information and tickets, starting at Dh400, visit www.redfestdxb.com – The National staff
