Georgian director Zaza Urushadze invited to join Film Academy

The Georgian man who directed the Oscar-shortlisted film Tangerines has become an official member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The prestigious organisation invited Zaza Urushadze to join the group. He was on the list of 322 people, including global acting superstars Emma Stone, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Oyelowo, and other well-known figures, who were invited to join the Academy.

Each year the Academy adds more than 100 new voting members to its ranks, encompassing 17 different branches including actors, cinematographers, directors, writers, producers and executives.

Membership in to the Academy is by invitation only. Oscar nominees are automatically considered; others must be sponsored by two members of their branch of filmmaking.

See the full list of 2015 invitees to the Film Academy here.

Urushadze’s movie Tangerines was nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign language film category in this year’s Academy Awards.

The film centres on an older Estonian man who cares for two wounded soldiers from opposite sides of the 1990-era war in Georgia.

Since its release the film has won awards at the Warsaw, Mannheim-Heidelberg, Palm Springs and Seattle film festivals and many other international film festivals.