Dawn Hudson — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Chief Executive

THE LATEST: With the pandemic wreaking havoc on theatrical release schedules over the past year, the Academy faced one of the most challenging environments for staging the Oscars. After extensive delays, the 2021 version of the ceremony was dramatically revamped. It met with mixed reviews from critics and indifference from viewers, who handed the show a 58% drop in year-over-year viewer numbers. On a positive note, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a glittering addition to Mid-Wilshire’s Museum Row, is on track to open in September.
BACKGROUND: Hudson, who became head of the Academy in 2011, oversees the organization’s education, outreach, research and preservation efforts, including the Oscars. Previously, Hudson spent two decades at Film Independent, the organization that oversees the Independent Spirit Awards. An Arkansas native, Hudson graduated from Harvard University.
YEARS ON THE LA500: 3
Return to the 2021 edition of the LA500.