The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced several substantial rule changes for the 99th Oscars, aimed at addressing artificial intelligence use and broadening eligibility for international films. The Academy told NPR the updates reflect feedback from the global filmmaking community and are intended to lower barriers in the eligibility process. It noted awards rules have evolved alongside new technologies such as sound, color, and CGI, and that AI will be treated in a similar fashion with annual reviews of rules and guidelines.
Human-only protections for performances and writing
Acting awards will be limited to roles demonstrably performed by humans with their consent, a change that renders AI-generated performers ineligible. The decision explicitly affects synthetic performers such as Tilly Norwood. The company behind Norwood, Particle6, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In March, Norwood posted on social media expressing excitement about attending the Oscars 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, signaling stricter scrutiny of AI-assisted work across categories.
Multiple nominations for the same actor
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. Under the previous rule an actor could receive only one nomination per category, with the higher-voted performance advancing if two roles ranked highly. The change makes it theoretically possible for a single performer to occupy more than one nomination slot in one category.
International feature eligibility refocused on filmmakers
International features may continue to be a country’s official selection, but films can also qualify by winning a top prize at a major international festival, with the Academy citing examples such as the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the Golden Lion at Venice, and the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. The former system gave countries one submitted and effectively ‘‘owned’’ nomination; the new approach allows multiple films from the same country to compete if they meet the updated criteria, shifting emphasis away from geopolitical representation toward recognition of filmmakers themselves.
Community reaction and implementation
The changes have drawn largely positive responses across the film community on social media, with many praising the human-only protections as a way to safeguard creative jobs. The Awards Committee and several 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.