Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan Named Executive Producers of 96th Academy Awards; Hamish Hamilton appointed director

The Academy Awards have their team and it’s a mix of past and present when it comes to production teams, but AMPAS clearly remains committed to running experienced live television professionals.

Raj Kapoor, who has worked as a producer at the Oscars for the past seven years, including last year, will serve as executive producer and showrunner for the first time. Joining him as executive producer is Done + Dusted veteran Katy Mullan, who is taking home the Oscars for the first time.

Hamish Hamilton joins the team as Director. It will be his fourth time hosting the show, which takes place on Sunday March 10 and will be broadcast live on ABC.

Along with Kapoor, Mullan and Hamilton, creative director Kenny Gravillis, production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley, red carpet show executive producer David Chamberlin and red carpet creative consultants Lisa Love and Raul Avila form the vision and direction of the 96th Academy Awards.

Last year’s executive producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirschner will not return this year, but will produce the upcoming Golden Globes in January.

“Raj and Hamish had a fantastic collaboration at the Oscars and we warmly welcome them and Katy to host the 96th Academy Awards,” said AMPAS CEO Bill Kramer and AMPAS President Janet Yang. “Her deep love of film, fresh vision and vast expertise in live television are perfect for our renewed program. We are delighted to be working with them and our remarkable creative team – Kenny Gravillis, Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley, David Chamberlin, Lisa Love and Raúl Àvila – to bring an extraordinary show to a global audience.”

Kapoor has been nominated for an Emmy six times and won the award for executive producer Adele: Just one night. In addition to several Oscar performances, he has presented at the Grammys, Emmys, Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and laugh and more.

Mullan is executive producer, showrunner and partner at global live production company Done + Dusted. Her work in live entertainment ranges from producing the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympics The Little Mermaid Lives! and several TV specials for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

An 11-time Emmy nominee, Hamilton made his Oscar debut as director of the 2010 telecast and went on to direct the 2014 and 2015 shows. He has directed many other award-winning live television events, including the Emmys and Grammys, 14 Super Bowl halftime shows, also this year, and the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.

“As a Canadian boy of South Asian descent and a girl from London who watched the Oscars as a child and dreamed of being there, this is a ‘pinch me’ moment!” Kapoor and Mullan said. “This has been an extraordinary year for cinema and it is an absolute privilege to lead the team in celebrating the global film industry and the amazing talents that bring these cinematic stories to life.” We do everything in our power to make it an unforgettable festival for everyone.”

“Having worked with Raj, Katy and Hamish on many special and memorable projects over the years, we have the utmost confidence in their vision for the 96th Academy Awards,” said Rob Mills, EVP of Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment at Walt Disney Television. “Their creativity, infectious energy and genuine love of film will make this year’s ceremony an unforgettable night.”