Oscar voters will now be required to watch all nominated films in each category to qualify for voting in the final round of the Oscars. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced this change, which aims to ensure that voters have seen all the contenders before making their selections. Previously, voters were only encouraged to view the nominees and vote in categories they felt knowledgeable about. The new requirement comes as the impact of which films are actually watched by members becomes increasingly significant in determining the winners. Moreover, there have been instances where anonymous Oscar ballots revealed that some voters had not viewed notable films or completed lengthier nominees.
In addition to this viewing mandate, the academy introduced several new regulations addressing issues such as artificial intelligence, refugee filmmakers, and the newly created casting category. For the best international film category, the academy will now allow filmmakers with refugee or asylum status to be represented by a country other than their own. While maintaining the existing framework for international submissions through countries, this change adjusts eligibility requirements. The regulation now specifies that the submitting country must confirm that creative control of the film was primarily in the hands of citizens, residents, or individuals with refugee or asylum status in that country.
Critics have long advocated for changes in the best international film nomination process, as it currently places the submission responsibility in the hands of governments, not the academy. This has limited opportunities for dissident filmmakers working under authoritarian regimes to reach the Oscars. An example is the case of Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, who fled Iran before facing imprisonment and subsequently had his film “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” submitted by Germany, where he had settled. However, the rule change will not affect Oscar prospects for filmmakers who remain in their home countries or for films not selected by their national committees.
The academy also clarified its stance on the use of generative artificial intelligence tools in filmmaking, stating that AI will neither benefit nor disadvantage a film’s chances of nomination. The role of AI in filmmaking has been a topic of extensive discussion in Hollywood. For instance, Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” faced controversy when its editor revealed that AI had been used to enhance the Hungarian dialogue for stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. The academy emphasized that each branch would consider the extent of human involvement in creative authorship when assessing films for awards.
Additionally, the academy established guidelines for the new achievement in casting Oscar. After an initial round of voting to create a shortlist of 10 films, members of the casting branch will attend a “bake-off” presentation featuring Q&A sessions with nominees. Although a new category for stunt design was announced in April, this award will not be introduced until the 2028 Oscars.
The next Academy Awards are scheduled for March 15, 2026, with Conan O’Brien set to host the telecast on ABC.
