Academy CEO Bill Kramer to Receive Special Award;
Special Talk Session between Toho CEO Hiro Matsuoka and Bill Kramer
 
The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), to be held from October 26 through November 4, is pleased to announce that it will present Academy in Tokyo, a special program welcoming top executives from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars®.
 
Academy CEO Bill Kramer, President Lynette Howell Taylor, and Chief Membership, Impact and Industry Officer Meredith Shea will visit Japan for the occasion. On October 28, the three will participate in a panel discussion, followed by the presentation of a leadership award to Kramer and a gathering for Academy members. On October 29, Kramer will take part in a conversation with Hiro Matsuoka, President and CEO of Toho Co., Ltd., a leading figure in the Japanese film industry.
 
Academy in Tokyo: Festival Panel
This panel will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Oscars® as well as insights into the Academy’s global initiatives and membership programs. The discussion will also explore the Academy’s perspective on the current state and future of international cinema.
 
Date/Time: October 28, 3:00–4:30 pm
Venue: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Hall
Speakers from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences:
Bill Kramer, CEO
Lynette Howell Taylor, President
Meredith Shea, Chief Membership, Impact and Industry Officer
Facilitator: Takeo Hisamatsu, TIFF Festival Director
Admission: Free (advance reservation required)
Details on how to make reservations will be announced soon on the official TIFF website and other channels.
 
Special Award to Be Presented to Bill Kramer
Following the panel discussion on October 28, Bill Kramer, making his first visit to Asia, will receive the Global Cinema Leadership Special Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the development of the global film industry and the advancement of film culture. Since becoming Academy CEO in 2022, Kramer has worked to further diversify and globalize the Academy’s membership. He oversees all of the Academy’s global operations and programs, including the Oscars, the Academy Foundation, and services for the organization’s 11,000 global members.
 
Academy in Tokyo: Member Gathering
On October 28, Academy in Tokyo: Member Gathering, a private reception for Academy members from around the world, will take place. Members of the Academy’s global film community will come together at TIFF for an opportunity to connect and exchange ideas.
 
Academy in Tokyo: Special Talk Session
Bill Kramer will participate in a wide-ranging dialogue with Hiro Matsuoka, President and CEO of Toho Co., Ltd. Join two leading figures in the film industry as they discuss the global cinematic landscape, the future of theatrical and streaming distribution, and next steps for international collaboration.
 
Date/Time: October 29, 2:00–3:30 pm
Venue: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Hall
Speakers: Bill Kramer (CEO, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), Hiro Matsuoka (President and CEO, Toho Co., Ltd.)
Admission: Free (advance reservation required)
Details on how to make reservations will be announced soon on the official TIFF website and other channels.
 
Speakers’ Profiles
Bill Kramer

CEO, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Bill Kramer is the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He oversees all of the Academy’s global operations and programs, including the Oscars®, the Academy Foundation, services for the organization’s 11,000 global members, and the $500 million Academy100 campaign. Prior to becoming Academy CEO, Kramer served as Director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which opened in September 2021, overseeing its curation, fundraising, creative direction, and other aspects of the museum.
 
Lynette Howell Taylor

President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Oscar®-nominated producer Lynette Howell Taylor is currently serving her second term as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A member of the Academy’s Producers Branch since 2014, she has produced more than 25 films over the past 20 years, including A Star Is Born. Her credits also include The Accountant, Captain Fantastic, and Blue Valentine. She co-produced the 92nd Oscars® show in 2020, for which she was nominated for an Emmy®.
 
Meredith Shea

Chief Membership, Impact and Industry Officer, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Meredith Shea is the Academy’s first Chief Membership, Impact and Industry Officer. She oversees its global membership of 11,000 film industry artists and leaders, awards administration, talent development programs, and industry outreach and impact work. She leads new member cultivation and outreach as well as film festival and international outreach, and oversees the Academy Foundation’s global talent development programs. Under her leadership, the Academy’s industry outreach and engagement work has expanded to include DEAI (diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion) and sustainability initiatives.
 
Hiro Matsuoka

President and CEO of Toho Company Limited
As CEO of Japan’s leading entertainment company, Matsuoka has spearheaded the exponential growth of Toho’s international business, overseeing the production of global hits such as the Academy Award®-winning Godzilla Minus One and driving the company’s strategic global expansion through key acquisitions, including GKIDS and Anime Limited. Under his leadership, Toho also grossed record earnings in Japan’s domestic box office in 2025. Matsuoka holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
 
The Academy will have several additional senior executives in attendance at the festival and member reception, including Amy Homma, Director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Academy Collection; Jenny Galante, Chief Revenue and Business Development Officer; and Jennifer Davidson, Chief Marketing, Communications and Content Officer.