Jobaaj Stories
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced new rules for the 98th Academy Awards, which will be held in 2026. These changes aim to make the voting process more fair, transparent, and in touch with the way films are made today—including rules around artificial intelligence (AI) and a brand-new award category.
Academy Members Must Watch All Nominated Films Before Voting
Starting with the 2026 Oscars, Academy members will only be allowed to vote in a category if they confirm they’ve watched every nominated film in that category. This move is meant to make sure voting is based on actual viewing and not just reputation or buzz.
This approach follows a model already used by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and is expected to improve the integrity of the final round of voting.
Academy Will Track Viewing Activity
To make sure the new rule is followed, the Academy will monitor film viewings through its exclusive Academy Screening Room—a members-only digital platform. If a member watches a film elsewhere, such as at a film festival or private event, they’ll need to submit a form stating when and where they watched it.
This rule has already been used in specific categories like International Feature Film and Animated Short, but will now apply to all categories.
New Oscar Category: Achievement in Casting
One of the biggest updates is the introduction of a new category—Achievement in Casting. This award will honor the creative efforts behind casting choices in film.
Here's how the process will work:
-
The Casting Directors Branch will select up to 10 films for consideration.
-
These films will be featured in a special event called a "Bake-Off", where five-minute clips will be shown and casting teams will answer questions.
-
Only members who have watched all 10 entries can vote to choose the final five nominees.
-
All Academy members can vote in the final round, based on edited presentations.
Best Cinematography Joins Shortlist Process
Another change adds the Best Cinematography category to the shortlist process. This means that between 10 to 20 films will be shortlisted before final nominations are decided. With this update, there are now 12 categories that go through a shortlisting phase. Only Production Design, Costume Design, and Film Editing still skip this step.
Academy Shares First Official AI Guidelines
As AI tools become more common in filmmaking, the Academy has shared its first formal guidelines on generative AI.
The rule says:
"Generative AI and other digital tools won’t help or hurt a film’s chances of getting nominated. The Academy and each branch will consider how much human creativity was involved when choosing winners."
This rule makes it clear that human contribution remains central to any film’s success at the Oscars.
A Step Toward More Fair and Thoughtful Recognition
These updates show the Academy’s effort to stay modern while protecting the value of human creativity. From making sure voters have actually seen the films, to creating new awards and addressing AI, the changes reflect a growing need for transparency and responsibility in how Oscar winners are chosen.
