Key Takeaways:
- Academy Board bans AI for the 99th Oscars, requiring human-only billing for acting and writing by March 2027.
- Tyler Perry halted an $800M studio expansion in 2024 to protest AI threats to editors and sound specialists.
- Starting in 2026, Cannes and Venice winners bypass committees, allowing 1 country multiple nominations.
The Industry’s Response to the ‘Existential’ Threat
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors announced a sweeping set of rule changes for the upcoming 99th Oscars, headlined by a strict decree: Artificial intelligence-generated content is not welcome at the podium. The decision marks a turning point in the industry’s battle against automation.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy’s stance is a direct response to rising anxiety over the “existential threat” AI poses to the creative workforce. Some industry analysts speculate the stance may also be a reaction to the completion of a performance by Val Kilmer, who died in 2025, using AI technology.
In addition, the Academy has directed that only human-authored screenplays are eligible for writing Oscars. While pressure had been building for the industry to address the threat of AI, there had previously been no concrete action taken to counter its rise.
In 2024, producer and actor Tyler Perry sent shockwaves through the industry when he announced he was indefinitely pausing an $800 million expansion of his Atlanta studio complex after seeing the capabilities of OpenAI’s video generator, Sora. At the time, Perry warned that the technology would “touch every corner of our industry” and lead to massive job losses for actors, editors and sound specialists.
“There’s got to be some sort of regulations to protect us,” Perry said. “If not, I just don’t see how we survive.” By codifying these rules now, the Academy appears to be providing the regulatory “shield” that Perry and other industry leaders spent years advocating for.
New Standards for Human Authorship
The new regulations eliminate legal gray areas regarding generative technology. Under the updated Rule Two, only performances “demonstrably performed by humans” are eligible. This rule also requires the performer’s explicit consent and legal billing in the film. The board added that it now reserves the right to demand detailed information regarding the nature of AI use in any submission to ensure “human authorship” remains the standard.
Beyond the AI crackdown, the Academy shattered a decades-old “one country, one film” restriction. In a major win for global cinema, a country can now land multiple nominations for Best International Feature.
A film can now qualify by winning the top prize at elite festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance, Toronto or Busan, bypassing the traditional local committee selection process if necessary. Additionally, the Oscar will be awarded to the director by name, rather than just the country — a change that would have seen Norway’s win for “Sentimental Value” earlier this year credited directly to filmmaker Joachim Trier.
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