An Oscar statue stands at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 14, 2026. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced several significant rule changes for the 99th Oscars, including protections related to AI for actors and writers and expanded eligibility rules for international films.
The Academy told NPR the updates respond to feedback from the global filmmaking community and aim to lower barriers in the eligibility process. It noted that awards rules have always evolved with technologies such as sound, color, and CGI, and that AI is being treated similarly; rules and guidelines are reviewed annually.
A blow for Tilly Norwood
One prominent change explicitly states that only roles “demonstrably performed by humans with their consent” are eligible for Acting awards, making AI-created performers like Tilly Norwood ineligible. Particle6, the company behind Norwood, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In March, Norwood posted “Can’t wait to go to the Oscars!” on Instagram when a new music video was released.
The Academy also requires screenplays to be “human-authored” and reserves the right to investigate the use of generative AI in any submission.
Qualifying human actors can now receive multiple nominations in the same category if separate performances each earn enough votes to rank among the top five. That change makes it theoretically possible for a highly prolific actor to occupy multiple nomination slots in one category. Previously, an actor could only receive one nomination per category; if two performances ranked highly, only the higher-voted performance would advance.
International films prioritize filmmakers over countries
International features can still be a country’s official selection, but they may now qualify by winning a top prize at a major international festival—examples cited include the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the Golden Lion at Venice, or the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
Under the former system, countries submitted and “owned” their single nomination. The new rules allow multiple films from the same country to compete if they meet the new criteria, shifting emphasis from geopolitical representation to recognition of the filmmakers themselves.
Largely positive response
The changes have drawn largely positive reactions across the film community on social media, with many praising the “human-only” protections as a way to safeguard creative jobs. The Academy’s Awards Committee and various branch executive committees—including the International Feature Film Executive Committee and the Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee—oversee the rules. The new standards are scheduled to take effect next year for films released in 2026.