The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled a series of significant reforms to the Oscars, introducing new rules that reshape nomination procedures and clarify the role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking.
Announced on Friday, the changes include a policy allowing actors to receive multiple nominations within the same category—marking a departure from longstanding practice.
The academy also confirmed that performances or screenplays generated using artificial intelligence will not be eligible for acting or writing awards.
Under newly approved statutes, only performances “demonstrably performed” by human actors, with their explicit consent, will qualify for acting honours. Similarly, eligibility for writing categories will be limited strictly to screenplays authored by humans.
The updated guidelines follow growing debate over AI’s role in cinema, including concerns raised after the posthumous use of technology to complete a performance by Val Kilmer, who died in 2025.
The academy said it reserves the right to request additional disclosures regarding AI usage in film productions.
In another notable shift, actors will now be eligible to secure more than one nomination in a single category. Previously, if a performer received enough votes for multiple roles, only their highest-ranked performance would be recognised.
The revised rule aligns acting categories with others, such as directing—highlighted by Steven Soderbergh’s dual nomination in 2001 for “Erin Brockovich” and “Traffic,” for which he won.
Changes were also made to the best international feature category. Films in non-English languages may now qualify by winning top honours at major festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, Busan, Sundance, Toronto and Venice, allowing more than one entry per country.
Additionally, the award will now be formally credited to the film’s director rather than its country of origin. This follows cases such as Joachim Trier, whose film “Sentimental Value” won the category this year but was officially awarded to Norway.
Further adjustments include increasing the number of individuals eligible for best casting recognition from two to three per film, and confirming a shortlist of 20 contenders for best cinematography.
The 99th Oscars ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
From 2029 onwards, the event will relocate to the Peacock Theater for a 10-year run, while its broadcast will transition from American Broadcasting Company to YouTube.
