Frontline filmmaker, storyteller and the arrowhead of iRep International Documentary Filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, will henceforth vote at the International Emmy Awards following his election as a member of the International Academy Television Arts & Sciences (IATAS).
With this latest development, Odugbemi becomes one of few Africans who are eligible to vote at the Oscars and the Emmys awards, having been indicted as an Oscar voting member for a few years now.
The letter from Emmy Awards dated September 29, 2022 read in part:
“Dear Femi,
“Congratulations! It gives us great pleasure to inform you that you have been officially elected by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. In the coming weeks you will receive a letter from our President & CEO, Bruce Paisner, along with your Membership Card and International Emmy® Pin.”
According to the Academy, the membership confers certain privileges and responsibilities on the filmmaker such as full access to the Members-Only section of its website.
The filmmaker will also be able “to RSVP to Events, watch videos of Academy Panels, view full episodes of International Emmy® Nominated Programs, search the Membership Directory, and track your International Emmy® Competition Entries.
“We look forward to seeing you at upcoming Academy events and will be in-touch to schedule a Zoom meeting to personally welcome you to the Academy,” the letter concluded.
Odugbemi, a former President of the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), has been a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) – organisers of the Oscars – since 2018.
A multi-talented content creator, Odugbemi was the creative lead at Multichoice Talent Factory in 2018 and 2019.
He produced and directed several feature and documentary films and has served in the Jury of many film festivals.