Oscars group elects Asian-American film producer Janet Yang as new president

Janet Yang, the 66-year-old producer of 'The Joy Luck Club', becomes the first Asian-American and fourth woman to lead the organisation behind the Oscars. Photo: AP

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences elected film producer Janet Yang as its new president, the group behind the Oscars announced Tuesday (Aug 2).

Yang, best known for hits including The Joy Luck Club and The People vs. Larry Flynt, becomes the fourth woman elected to run Hollywood's most elite group of filmmakers, and the first of Asian origin.