Oscars introduce first AI rules, require human-performed roles

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled sweeping changes to Oscar eligibility rules for the 99th Academy Awards in 2027, including its first-ever guidelines addressing artificial intelligence in filmmaking. The new rules state that only roles "demonstrably performed by humans with their consent" are eligible for consideration, and screenplays must be human-authored. The Academy reserves the right to request more information from filmmakers about their use of AI technology, though it emphasizes that AI tools "neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination." Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor stressed that "humans have to be at the center of the creative process," and this policy will be assessed annually as the technology evolves. The organization also announced major reforms to the International Film category, which had faced criticism for being outdated and subject to political interference. Films are now eligible if they win top honors at prestigious festivals including the Palme d'Or at Cannes, the Golden Lion at Venice, the Golden Bear at Berlin, the best film award at Busan, the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, or the Platform Award at Toronto. Notably, films will be credited as the nominee rather than the nominating country, and directors will have their names listed on the Oscar plaque. This change follows examples like Jafar Panahi's "It Was Just an Accident," which won Cannes last year but was not submitted as Iran's official entry. Additionally, actors may now be nominated for multiple performances within the same category if all their performances rank in the top five votes. The Academy also clarified that original songs used during end credits must overlap with at least the final 15 seconds of the film to be eligible. CEO Bill Kramer described the changes as "smart and progressive," noting they reflect the organization's growing international focus as both membership and the global filmmaking community continue to expand.