Academy Overhauls Oscar Rules for Acting, International Film, and AI
99th Academy Awards rule changes
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially approved a series of transformative rule changes for the 99th Academy Awards, marking a significant evolution in how the organization adjudicates artistic achievement in the age of artificial intelligence. In a comprehensive update released on Friday, May 1, 2026, the Board of Governors established that while generative AI tools will not disqualify a film from consideration, they will neither help nor hinder a movie’s chances of securing a nomination.
The Academy and its various branches will now explicitly evaluate the degree of human authorship at the heart of the creative process when selecting nominees. In the acting categories, the organization has clarified that only roles demonstrably performed by humans with their express consent will be eligible for awards. This decision effectively bans purely AI-generated performances from competition while reserving the right for the Academy to request detailed information regarding the nature of digital tools used in a performance on a case-by-case basis.
Significant structural changes have also been implemented within the acting and international feature film categories to better reflect the global nature of modern cinema. For the first time, performers are eligible to receive multiple nominations within the same acting category if they rank among the top five vote-getters for different roles, a move that aligns acting with other branches of the Academy.
In the International Feature Film category, the eligibility criteria have been expanded to include non-English language films that win top prizes at prestigious qualifying festivals, such as the Cannes Palme d’Or or the Sundance World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, even if they are not selected as a country’s official submission.
Additionally, a progressive new policy allows filmmakers with refugee or asylum status to represent the countries in which they currently reside, ensuring that displaced artists are not excluded from the conversation due to their lack of a national origin connection. In another major shift, the Academy confirmed that the Oscar statuette for Best International Feature will now be officially awarded to the director in addition to the country, acknowledging the specific creative leadership behind these global works.
These updates extend to other technical and creative branches, including an increase in the number of statuettes awarded for the Achievement in Casting category from two to three and an expansion of the cinematography shortlist to exactly 20 films. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized that these “smart and progressive” changes are intended to maintain the integrity of human artistry while navigating the rapid technological shifts currently facing the industry.
The new regulations apply to films with a qualifying theatrical release between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026, setting the stage for a historic 99th awards ceremony. Industry professionals and voters are now required to adhere to these updated inclusion standards and promotional regulations as the campaign season begins. For the full list of category adjustments and official submission deadlines, readers can access the comprehensive report from the Associated Press and Awards Radar.
