Major Changes Announced for the 99th Oscars: What You Need to Know!

New Regulations for the 99th Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has introduced significant updates for the upcoming 99th Oscars, impacting various categories including acting, writing, and international films. Notably, actors can now receive nominations for multiple films within the same category. Additionally, non-English films can qualify by winning a top award at one of six recognized festivals. In a notable shift, the director's name will now be inscribed on the trophy instead of the country. Furthermore, the AMPAS has taken a firm stance against artificial intelligence, banning its use in writing categories and disallowing AI-augmented performances in acting nominations.

Revised Rules for Acting and International Film Categories

Oscar rules changed in acting, international film categories

The updated regulations for the Oscars 2027 allow actors to be nominated twice in the same category for different films, provided both performances receive enough votes. For example, Paul Mescal could have been nominated for his roles in The History of Sound and Hamnet. Previously, actors like Sebastian Stan and Kate Winslet missed out on recognition for their second performances due to restrictions on nominations.

This change aims to reduce category manipulation, where actors might submit a leading performance in a supporting category to secure two nominations. Additionally, performances by late actors, such as Val Kilmer's As Deep as the Grave, will not be eligible, as only roles credited in the film’s legal billing and performed by humans with consent will be considered.

Significant changes have also been made in the international film category, which could greatly benefit Indian cinema. Now, multiple films from the same country can qualify for nominations. If a non-English film wins a top award at prestigious festivals like the Berlin International Film Festival or Cannes Film Festival, it automatically qualifies for a nomination. This rule also provides opportunities for filmmakers like Jafar Panahi, who continue to create despite governmental restrictions.

Another significant change in the international film category is that the director's name will now be displayed on the trophy, eliminating the need for the country’s name in most cases.

AMPAS Takes a Stand Against AI

Academy bans AI

The AMPAS has emphasized its commitment to human authorship, stating it reserves the right to request information regarding the use of AI in submitted films. For writing categories, screenplays must be created by humans to qualify.

In the newly introduced casting category, the number of trophies awarded will increase from two to three. For cinematography, the preliminary voting round will now feature a fixed shortlist of 20 films, rather than the previous range of 10 to 20. In the makeup and hairstyling category, branch members must attend at least one of the two final branch meetings to be eligible to vote in the preliminary round. For Original Song, eligibility will now depend on its placement in the end credits, requiring a video clip to include the last 15 seconds of the feature before the end credits for songs submitted as new music.

Lastly, for visual effects, all Academy members must view the three-minute before and after reels from the Visual Effects Bake-Off to be eligible to vote in the final round. The 99th Oscars ceremony is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on March 14, 2027.