Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences enacts strict human-only criteria for Oscar eligibility

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has issued immediate eligibility guidelines stating that acting and writing for Oscar consideration must be performed by humans. Films utilising AI-generated actors or screenplays written by artificial intelligence are now disqualified from nomination under the new framework. This governance shift codifies the requirement that roles credited in the film's legal billing must be demonstrably performed by humans with their consent, ensuring that digital avatars do not receive recognition.

In the Writing categories, the rules explicitly mandate that screenplays must be human-authored to be eligible. This decision arrives days after the unveiling of an AI version of the late actor Val Kilmer for the film "As Deep as the Grave," a project supported by the actor's family. The Academy's ruling follows the recent controversy surrounding the digital recreation of the deceased star, highlighting the industry's sensitivity regarding posthumous AI usage and the boundaries of digital performance.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of the 2023 strikes by actors and writers, who warned that unchecked technology threatened their livelihoods. The Academy has responded to these historical concerns by establishing clear boundaries to protect human creative labour. The use of artificial intelligence in entertainment has remained a contentious issue, and these new regulations aim to address the fears raised during the industry-wide walkouts regarding the impact of automation on professional roles.

Concurrent with the ban on AI, the Academy has revised the International Feature Film category to expand eligibility criteria. Films winning top awards at major festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Toronto can now qualify regardless of their country of origin. This change removes the previous requirement for selection solely through an official national grouping, a restriction that previously created barriers for critical movies produced in authoritarian states.

Under the revised structure, the film itself will be deemed the nominee rather than the country, and the director will be listed on the statuette plaque after the film title. This adjustment allows non-English language films to qualify if they secure qualifying awards at major international film festivals, including Berlin, Busan, and Toronto, in addition to Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. The Academy noted that this approach addresses past issues where films from restricted environments, such as those by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, were nominated only through foreign submissions.

While the specific implementation timeline for these rules regarding ongoing production cycles versus future releases is not detailed, the policy represents a significant shift in how the Academy governs eligibility. The decision reflects a broader institutional stance on the role of technology in cinema, balancing innovation with the preservation of human authorship in the pursuit of the film world's biggest prizes.