The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved a set of new and updated rules for the 99th Oscar ceremony, scheduled for 2027, and there’s a clear ray of hope for Indian filmmakers in the mix.
Oscar rules changed
The academy announced some rule changes on Friday, affecting several categories and its Governors Awards.
From this point on in the acting categories, both lead and supporting, actors can be nominated for more than one performance in those individual categories if their performance is in the top five votes. Previously, unlike every other category, if an actor had films that received two or three of the top five votes, only the performance that received the most votes would be eligible.
This means if Leonardo DiCaprio has had two great lead roles in the same year, now he can be nominated for both projects in the Best Actor category. The same applies if he has multiple supporting performances.
Additionally, in the acting category, only roles credited in the legal billing of the film and played by human beings with their consent will be eligible. It became a topic of discussion after the experiment of Likeness of Val Kilmer in the upcoming film, As Deep as the Grave.
The Academy addressed generic AI more broadly, reserving the right to request additional information regarding the nature of its use and the extent of human authorship on any submitted film. In writing categories, the rules are now formally codified that scripts must be human-written to qualify. The organization stressed that although its rules continue to evolve along with technology, its commitment to human artistry remains unchanged.
good news for india
In a significant change, the Academy has revisited its long-standing rule that only one film per country or region – selected by a local, Academy-approved committee – can compete in the Best International Feature category.
Now, a film can also qualify for consideration in the category by winning a top prize at one of several major international film festivals: Berlin (Golden Bear), Busan (Best Film Award), Cannes (Palme d’Or), Sundance (World Cinema Grand Jury Prize), Toronto (Platform Award) and Venice (Golden Lion). In other words, the same country or region can now receive multiple nominations for the Best International Feature Oscar.
Additionally, the Best International Feature Oscar will no longer be awarded to a country or region, but to its director. Earlier this year, for example, that category’s Oscar went to sentimental value, but technically the winner was Norway, not filmmaker Joachim Trier. From now on, the director’s name will also appear on Oscar plaques and record books.
more changes
In the casting category, the number of statues awarded will increase from a maximum of two to three. The cinematography branch will prepare a fixed shortlist of 20 films in its initial voting round instead of the earlier limit of 10 to 20.
In makeup and hairstyling, branch members must attend at least one of the two final branch roundtables to be eligible to vote in the preliminary round. In Visual Effects, all Academy members must watch the three-minute reels before and after the Visual Effects Bake-Off to vote in the final round. The Original Songs category also received an update. For songs presented as the first new music cue after the end credits begin, the video clip presented must include the last 15 seconds of the film before the credits roll.
For the Governors’ Awards, there must now be at least three disciplines represented among the honorees in any given year.
The rules are prepared by the Awards Committee in collaboration with the Branch Executive Committees, the International Feature Film Executive Committee and the Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee, and are subject to final approval by the Board of Governors.
The 99th Oscars will take place on March 14, 2027, followed by the 100th Oscars on March 5, 2028.