Janet Yang (center) was presented with the Outstanding Asian American Woman Who Dare Award by Yu Sai Kan (right) on February 27 in Los Angeles. China Daily
Janet Yang, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, famous for its annual Academy Awards, said the Chinese film industry will have a greater influence on the Oscars in the future.
“I think it's only a matter of time when more Chinese films will be recognized internationally and at the Oscars,” Yang, who is fluent in Mandarin, told China Daily.
She stressed the need for Chinese films to bridge cultural gaps and highlight talent to global audiences. She believes that Chinese cinema continues to gain recognition globally, with further progress being made at the Academy Awards, which will be held on Sunday at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California.
“I have noticed that the quality of Chinese cinema has advanced leaps and bounds over the past few decades. It has been very exciting and encouraging to witness this,” Yang said. “The most important thing is that these stories connect with a global audience.”
Yang, the 36th president of the Academy, occupies an important place in Hollywood history. She is the first person of Asian descent, the second person of color, and the fourth woman to hold this influential position. Yang follows Hollywood stars who have held this position, such as Douglas Fairbanks, Frank Capra, Bette Davis, George Stevens, Gregory Peck, Robert Wise, and Karl Malden.
Yang was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” by The Hollywood Reporter.
Yang was born in New York City to Chinese immigrant parents. It ignited her passion for her Chinese heritage as a teenager. When Yang chose to work and live in Beijing after graduating from university in the 1980s, her eyes were opened to a whole other world of cultural creatives. In particular, she “fell in love” with a group of filmmakers who were sponsored at a film studio in the remote Xi'an region of Shaanxi Province.
“Many of us can think of a specific moment that sparked the inspiration to work on the film,” Yang said. “For me, that moment came in Beijing watching Chen Kaijie’s film ‘Yellow Earth’.”
“Growing up in America, I hardly saw any Asians on the big or small screen; if any of them showed up in passing, it was inevitably a very degrading role,” Yang recalls in a conversation with Chinese filmmaker Chen.
The Chinese film “Yellow Earth” inspired Yang to believe that the Western world would appreciate such works. This belief prompted Yang to launch her career by founding the first distribution company to market Chinese films in North America.
It also played a pivotal role in reintroducing American cinema to the Chinese market on behalf of several studios, after a decades-long hiatus. It is worth noting that she collaborated with Steven Spielberg in his film Empire of the Sun in 1986.
Yang is dedicated to promoting global understanding and has served as a longtime member of the Committee of 100, an organization of prominent Chinese American figures. She also holds advisory board positions at the Asia Society of Southern California, chairs the US-Asia Entertainment Summit, and is a co-founder of Gold House, a non-profit group of influential Asian cultural leaders.
Last week, Yang, along with other remarkable women, was honored in the Outstanding Asian American Woman Who Dare Award, which is chaired by Yu Sai Kan, another Chinese American who is an Emmy-winning television host, producer, entrepreneur, and fashion designer. Icon, author and humanitarian.
Empowering Asian women
“Given the current climate of rising anti-Asian sentiment, we must continue to shine a spotlight on these individuals to empower all Asian women to overcome challenges and continue to shine,” Kahn said at the awards ceremony, which was co-presented by the Chinese Institute of America and America. Her One World Foundation on February 27 in Los Angeles.
“Our community is our superpower,” Yang said. “I am very fortunate to be able to take our culture to a greater world.”
Yang's accomplishments also lie in overseeing a more diverse academy. She shared her thoughts and aspirations for the upcoming Academy Awards.
“We're really excited about the upcoming Oscars,” Yang said. “2023 was an exceptional year for films, featuring a diverse range of films – from blockbusters to deeply personal films, and everything in between. There was something for everyone.”
Yang highlighted the diversity of this year's Academy Awards by celebrating cinematic excellence while promoting inclusivity. She stressed the importance of world cinema, noting the presence of nominees from countries outside the United States in various categories.
This year, of the 10 films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, three of them — Anatomy of a Fall, Past Lives, and Zone of Interest — are foreign language films.
“I believe these trends will become the norm rather than the exception,” Yang said. “Just three years ago, director Bong Joon Ho said, ‘Once you overcome the one-inch translation barrier, you will be introduced to many great films.’ We have definitely crossed that barrier.”
Yang also championed the recognition of pioneering work through talent development programs, such as the Student Academy Awards, that connect students with professionals in the field.
“We are promoting young talent and directing them towards roles within the industry. This is our best way to foster a more inclusive and vibrant film scene,” she said.
renali@chinadailyusa.com
