The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled a transformative overhaul of its regulations for the 99th Oscars, marking one of the most significant shifts in the organisation’s history.
These sweeping changes, announced Friday, target the rise of artificial intelligence while simultaneously dismantling long-standing restrictions on acting nominations and international film eligibility.
In a direct response to the technological evolution of Hollywood, the Academy has established a firm boundary regarding AI. Under the new rules, acting awards are strictly reserved for performances demonstrably performed by humans with their consent.
This human-centric requirement extends to the writing categories, where the Academy now specifies that scripts must be human-authored to qualify. According to the official press release, the Academy reserves the right to request more information about the nature of the use and human authorship in any production.
This policy arrives amid a heated industry debate over digital replicas, highlighted by the posthumous AI work of Val Kilmer, who passed away in 2025.
While the Academy is tightening its grip on technology, it is loosening the reins on performers. In a historic move, actors are now permitted to receive multiple nominations within the same category.
For decades, if an actor earned enough votes for two different roles in the same category, only the performance with the highest tally would move forward. This change aligns acting with directing and screenwriting, where multiple nods have long been allowed, potentially allowing a single star to dominate a category.
The international film landscape is also seeing a major shake-up.
The Academy has dismantled the one country, one film rule that has been in place since the 1950s. While nations may still submit a primary entry, films can now qualify independently by winning the top prize at major festivals like Cannes, Sundance, or Venice.
Furthermore, the Best International Feature Film award will now be credited to the director rather than the country of origin.
This ensures filmmakers like Joachim Trier, whose film Sentimental Value recently triumphed, receive their names on the statuette and in the official archives.
As the industry prepares for the 99th Oscars on March 14, 2027, these updates signal an institution balancing the protection of human artistry with a modern, global perspective.
With the ceremony also set to move to the Peacock Theater and YouTube in 2029, the Academy is clearly bracing for a new era of entertainment.