With the Academy Awards a little over a month a way, we decided to interview filmmaker, Oscar voter, and A-Doc Steering Committee member, PJ Raval. He gives us some insight about his work with the Academy since 2019. PJ Raval is a queer, first generation Filipinx American filmmaker whose work examines social justice issues through the voices of queer and marginalized subjects. Read what he has to say below!
*Please note PJ is speaking from his own experience and service as a member, not officially on behalf of the Academy.
1. How long have you been an Academy member?
I was invited into the Documentary Branch of the Academy in July of 2019. It was a pretty memorable day when the announcement went public. I was travelling in Sicily for my honeymoon and had set an hour aside for a press phone interview because my feature documentary CALL HER GANDA was about to air on PBS on POV that evening, when I suddenly got a flurry of congratulatory text messages about the announcement! So, it made for quite a day! Several life milestones aligning!
2. How have you felt the organization has changed from when you joined to now?
Speaking from my experience and service as a member, not officially on behalf of the Academy, the number of members has certainly continued to grow since I first joined, and it’s great to see so many friends and colleagues located all around the world across the entire Academy. I think the highly anticipated Academy Museum, which officially opened in 2021, has also been a great addition and has provided a much-needed space to celebrate the history, craft, and overall cultural impact of filmmaking. When I first joined the Academy, I served on the Museum’s Inclusion Advisory Committee, so I had the privilege of learning firsthand the plans and mission of the Museum.
3. Any initiatives you can talk about? Specifically about diversifying the voting body?
In 2021, the Academy officially formed Membership Affinity Groups, which are designed to bring members of shared backgrounds and afinities together to foster community, increase visibility, and provide education and guidance across the Academy. There are currently 9 groups for the Asian, Black, Disability, Indigenous, Jewish Heritage, Latinx, LGBTQ+, MENA, and women communities. I’ve served as the chair of the Asian Afinity Group since 2023 and have been able to work with different committees and members to advocate for Asian representation across Academy initiatives.
The increased presence and integration of these Affinity Groups within the Academy’s year- round work signals, to me, a strong commitment to supporting underrepresented and marginalized communities. I also think much of the industry press has noted the Academy’s growing international reach, including a significant increase in members based throughout Asia. So, I do feel the Academy has continued to become more international and overall diverse from when I first joined.
4. How are new members chosen?
All the Academy’s branches have an Executive Committee that annually reviews candidates for membership, from which it makes recommendations to the Board of Governors for an official invitation.
Over the last few years, with the Asian Affinity Group, we’ve been able to work with members serving on each of the Branch Executive Committees to ensure equitable representation of candidates from our community.
5. What have been some of your favorite doc winners in the past?
I generally shy away from these questions because it’s nearly impossible to choose from so many extraordinary films. But even just thinking about the last three Best Documentary winners—NO OTHER LAND, 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL, and NAVALNY—they are among some of the most powerful films I’ve seen, and their stories remain with me to this day.
There are also several past winners and nominees that continue to personally inspire me, such as THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK and, of course, the seminal Asian American documentary WHO KILLED VINCENT CHIN? by Renee Tajima-Peña and the late Christine Choy. These films remain some of the most important documents of American history.
6. What is something you want people to know about the Academy/Oscars that people get wrong?
The Oscars are part awards show, part family reunion and part prom! It may only be a few hours on TV for viewers at home, but there’s plenty of prepping, primping, and celebrating before AND after the broadcast. A lot also happens when the cameras aren’t rolling. If I remember correctly last year Colman Domingo led a dance break during one of the commercial breaks. I can only imagine what’ll happen this year!
For 2026 we had 35 films eligible for the 2026 Oscars, with 8 films making the shortlist and 4 films becoming nominees! The ceremony will take place on March 15.