{
  "id": 1788670,
  "title": "Motion Picture Academy Names Sean Baker and Samantha Quan as Chairs of Marquee Theater Committee",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/motion-picture-academy-names-sean-baker-and-samantha-quan-as-chairs",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T20:02:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Variety",
    "slug": "variety",
    "url": "https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sean-baker-samantha-quan-ampas-theater-committee-1236837591/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the appointment of Sean Baker and Samantha Quan as co-chairs of the new Marquee Theater Committee. This committee reviews submissions and recommends venues to be included on the Academy Marquee Theater List. According to Variety and Deadline, Baker, a four-time Oscar winner, will lead the committee alongside Quan, his partner and a producer.\n\nThe appointments were part of a broader announcement of chairs and vice chairs for the Academy's 2026-27 committees and affinity groups. TheWrap reported that over four dozen Academy members have been appointed to these roles. Other committee chairs include Michèle Ohayon and James Wilson, who will co-chair the International Feature Film Executive Committee.\n\nBaker has previously emphasized the importance of theatrical moviegoing, as noted by TheWrap. His partner, Samantha Quan, will co-chair the Marquee Theater Committee with him. The Academy's committee appointments aim to oversee various aspects of the Oscars, including the International Feature Film category.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}