TLDR: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled significant rule changes for the 98th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 15, 2026. Key updates include a new mandate requiring voters to watch all nominated films in a category to cast a final ballot, the introduction of an inaugural Oscar for Achievement in Casting, and clarified guidelines on the use of generative artificial intelligence in film production. The AI rules state that such tools will neither help nor harm a film’s nomination prospects, with human creative authorship remaining the paramount factor.
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a comprehensive set of rule changes and key dates for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, set to take place on March 15, 2026. These revisions, approved by the Academy’s Board of Governors, aim to enhance the integrity of the voting process, recognize new areas of cinematic achievement, and address the evolving landscape of film production, particularly concerning artificial intelligence.
One of the most impactful changes is the new requirement for Academy members to watch all nominated films in a given category to be eligible to vote in that category’s final round. This procedural shift comes after reports from previous years suggested some judges did not view all nominated films, with instances cited regarding longer runtimes. The Academy’s statement emphasizes that this mandate ensures more informed and fair decision-making across all categories.
In a historic move, the Academy will introduce an inaugural Oscar for Achievement in Casting, debuting at the 98th ceremony. The voting process for this new award will involve a preliminary round to establish a shortlist of 10 films. Following this, members of the Casting Directors Branch will participate in a ‘bake-off’ presentation, including a Q&A session with the designated nominees, before final nominations are determined.
The Academy has also issued crucial guidance on the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital tools in film production. The updated rules clarify that these tools will ‘neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination.’ Instead, the Academy and its respective branches will judge achievements based on ‘the extent to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship.’ This clarification follows recent discussions and controversies surrounding films like ‘The Brutalist’ (2024) and ‘Emilia Pérez’ (2024), which reportedly utilized AI during their production, underscoring the Academy’s commitment to human-centric creativity.
Further amendments include updates to the eligibility criteria for the International Feature Film category, which now extends creative control requirements to include filmmakers with refugee or asylum status in the submitting country, promoting greater inclusivity. Revised submission deadlines have also been established across various categories, with Original Song entries due by October 15, 2025, and Original Score entries by November 3, 2025. Best Picture contenders released in the first half of 2025 must submit PGA certification proof by September 10, 2025, while those from the latter half have a November 13, 2025, deadline.
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The Academy’s comprehensive overhaul of its rules reflects an ongoing effort to adapt to industry changes while upholding the artistic and technical standards of cinematic excellence for its prestigious awards.
