New Oscar Rules Ahead on Academy Will Demand Screenings

The Academy Awards are stepping into the future—with eyes wide open. Starting in the near future, Oscar voters will be required to watch all nominated films in a given category before casting their vote. And that’s not the only change. In response to rising concerns around AI-generated content and calls for greater inclusion, the Academy is preparing to implement new rules covering artificial intelligence in filmmaking and submissions from refugee filmmakers.

Mandatory Viewing: No More Voting Blind

The most immediate—and dramatic—shift will be the requirement for Oscar voters to actually watch all nominated films in the categories they’re voting on. While that may seem obvious, it hasn’t always been enforced.

By the 98th Academy Awards, the new rule will mandate:

• Verified Viewing: Voters must confirm they’ve watched every nominee in a category to submit a valid vote.
• Equity in Exposure: This change could boost the chances of lesser-known films and underdog creators getting a fair shot.
• Digital Tracking: Secure screening platforms will likely include built-in viewing logs to ensure transparency.

The Academy hopes this will raise the standard of voting integrity, especially in categories like Best Documentary or International Feature, where smaller titles are often overlooked.

New AI Rules: Creative Use, Not Creative Replacement

As AI becomes an increasingly controversial tool in the film industry, the Academy is responding with careful boundaries.

By 2026, new rules will include:

• Human Authorship Standards: Films that rely on AI in screenwriting, animation, or performance generation must clearly disclose how it was used—and human creators must retain artistic control.
• AI Transparency Requirement: Any AI-generated visual or audio elements must be identified during submission.
• Eligibility Limits: Films created entirely—or predominantly—by AI tools without meaningful human input will likely be disqualified from major artistic categories.

The Academy is following a broader Hollywood movement to set ethical standards for emerging tech, ensuring AI enhances rather than replaces creative labor.

Expanded Eligibility for Refugee Filmmakers

Recognizing the complex realities of displaced creators, the Academy will also expand eligibility rules for refugee filmmakers.

Key updates will include:

• Flexible Nationality Rules: Refugee directors and producers who are unable to represent a country due to displacement will be allowed to submit films under a special status.
• New Pathways to Entry: These films will have their own eligibility criteria, ensuring inclusion without forcing alignment to national submission systems.
• Support for Stateless Creators: This change aims to reflect the Academy’s commitment to recognizing talent, regardless of nationality or home country affiliations.

Future-Focused FAQs

Q1: Why is the Academy requiring Oscar voters to watch all nominated films?
A1: To ensure fairness and integrity. In past years, some voters skipped lesser-known entries, leading to biased outcomes. The new rule aims to level the playing field for all nominees.

Q2: What kinds of AI usage will disqualify a film from Oscar eligibility?
A2: Films that rely too heavily on AI to replace key creative roles—like writing scripts or generating performances without human direction—will likely be ineligible for major awards. Transparent and ethical use of AI, however, will still be allowed.

Q3: How will the new refugee filmmaker rule work?
A3: Filmmakers with refugee status who can’t represent a home country will be allowed to submit films independently or under new eligibility criteria, expanding access for stateless or displaced artists.

Sources APNews