The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has solidified its stance against AI-generated content in Oscar eligibility, announcing on May 1-2, 2026 that films featuring AI-created performances or scripts will be barred from consideration. This decisive move responds to industry-wide concerns raised during the 2023 Writers Guild strike and subsequent debates about AI's role in filmmaking. The new rules take effect for the 99th Academy Awards, requiring full disclosure of AI usage while maintaining allowances for AI-assisted production tools.
All acting nominations must now feature human performers, with no exceptions for AI-generated characters or digital recreations. The Academy emphasized this preserves the craft's authenticity after extensive consultation with actors' unions. Films using AI must declare it in submission materials, though such works won't automatically be disqualified if human performances remain central. France 24+1
Screenplay categories now require entirely human-authored works, banning AI-generated or co-written scripts. This clarification comes after years of ambiguity about AI's role in writing, particularly following the 2023 writers' strike. The rules permit AI as a research tool but mandate that creative authorship must be demonstrably human. Russian Gazette+1
Alongside AI restrictions, the Academy broadened eligibility for International Feature Films to include winners from major festivals like Cannes and Venice. This parallel initiative aims to balance technological regulation with greater cultural inclusivity, recognizing that human creativity flourishes across diverse global contexts. Asahi Shimbun+1