Sandra Evers-Manly Elected President of Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center

The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center on Monday announced the election of Sandra Evers-Manly as president and newest member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Class of 2020.

As word of the Academy’s announcement spread, congratulatory sentiments for Evers-Manly began streaming in.

“As a filmmaker who benefited from Sandra’s support with an Oscar nomination, I’m elated to see she was recognized by the Academy for her contribution to the art of filmmaking through festivals, workshops and support of emerging filmmakers,” David Massey, AMPAS member and chief champion of Evers-Manly’s nomination, said in a statement. “With more than 25 years of experience in the film industry, Evers-Manly has made a lasting imprint on both the filmmaking community and the community at large. Her investment of time, talent, and money by developing and producing film projects, creating audience engagement, youth training in film and assisting both veteran and emerging filmmakers have made her an icon for support and excellence.”

Reggie Rock Bythewood, director of “Biker Boyz” and “Love & Basketball,” added that Evers-Manly has been an incredible advocate and voice for inclusion and change in Hollywood.

“Her imprint is on so many of our careers and we can’t wait to feel her impact from the inside,” Bythewood said.

Evers-Manly has served as executive producer of five short films on the impact of gang violence through the “Fight Back with Films” initiative, and in 1998 established “The First Weekend Club,” a film club formed to support films featuring African Americans both in front of and behind the scenes.

Evers-Manly has also served as president of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP for 12 years, including overseeing the NAACP Image Awards, NAACP Theater Awards and reports on diversity in the film and television industry.