Oscars Set New Limits on AI for 99th Academy Awards

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The board of trustees of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the body behind the Oscars, has officially announced measures to safeguard the integrity of human artistry against the encroaching influence of digital technology. The institution released updated requirements on Friday, May 1, 2026, local time, redefining eligibility criteria for films seeking to compete in the upcoming 99th Academy Awards.

A report from The Hollywood Reporter noted that the primary objective of this update is to ensure the Oscars remain a symbol of human achievement rather than the output of algorithmic calculations. This decision follows a protracted debate within Hollywood regarding the increasingly pervasive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its critical impact on creative professionals.

Safeguarding the Roles of Actors and Writers

In its official press release, the Academy highlighted two sectors most vulnerable to AI intervention: acting and screenwriting. The Academy will no longer permit ambiguity regarding characters or works generated entirely by machines.

Regarding acting, the new regulations state: "only roles credited in the film's legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent will be considered eligible."

This provision is vital as it addresses the legality of film credits and performer consent, aiming to prevent the use of digital replicas or deepfake technology without proper compensation or permission. Under this rule, an actor's performance must be authentic, rooted in human emotional interpretation on set.

A similar stance has been adopted in the field of screenwriting. Citing a report from People, AMPAS now formalizes the requirement that a script must be authored by a human to be deemed eligible. This move effectively bars scripts generated by large language models (LLMs) that function solely on prompts without substantial creative human input.

Revolutionizing the International Film Pathway

Aside from the AI discourse, this update offers a significant shift for global filmmakers. The Academy has introduced a new mechanism for submissions in the International Feature Film category.

Member nations now have two ways for submission. The first remains the traditional route through an official national selection committee. However, should this pathway face obstacles, such as the absence of an approved committee, the Academy now provides a secondary route through a selection committee directly authorized by AMPAS.

This alternative is available to films that have qualified at internationally recognized film festivals. This change is viewed as revolutionary, offering a safeguard for high-quality works against bureaucratic hurdles in their home countries.

The Road to the 2027 Academy Awards

These fundamental shifts will set the standard for the 99th Academy Awards. According to the official announcement, the 2027 Oscars ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 14, 2027.

Following Conan O'Brien's successful hosting of this year's event, the Academy has established a clear timeline for the future. With an ample preparation period, producers are now encouraged to be more transparent in documenting their creative processes. This policy reinforces the Oscars' position as a final bastion ensuring that the human touch remains the essential core of every cinematic frame.

ANDARA ANGESTI

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