The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has officially announced a sweeping set of regulatory changes for the upcoming 99th Academy Awards ceremony, scheduled for March 2027. At the heart of the new rules is a decisive ban on artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content competing in the major award categories, marking a turning point in the industry's fight against automation.
New Standards for Human Creativity
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy's Board of Governors has mandated that only performances 'clearly performed by humans' will be eligible for nomination. The updated rules, specifically Section Two, require explicit consent from actors and proper legal credits within the film. The Academy reserves the right to demand detailed information about the nature of AI usage in any submitted work to ensure 'human authorship' remains the standard. The move directly addresses growing unease over the 'existential threat' posed by AI to creative professionals, and follows the controversy surrounding the AI recreation of the late Val Kilmer's performance in 2025.
Industry Response: A 'Regulatory Shield'
The new rules provide a long-awaited regulatory 'shield' for industry leaders who have been sounding the alarm. In 2024, producer and actor Tyler Perry indefinitely suspended his $800 million Atlanta studio expansion plans after witnessing the capabilities of OpenAI's video generator Sora. Perry warned that the technology would 'affect every corner of our industry' and lead to massive job losses for actors, editors, and sound engineers. 'We need some sort of regulation to protect us,' Perry said at the time. 'Without it, I don't see how we survive.' The Academy's codification of these rules now gives the industry the legal backing that Perry and others have fought for.
Major Reform for International Feature Films
Beyond the AI ban, the Academy has also eliminated the decades-old 'one country, one entry' restriction for the Best International Feature Film category. Starting from this edition, a single country can now submit multiple films for consideration. Furthermore, films can gain eligibility by winning top prizes at major festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance, Toronto, and Busan, bypassing the need for local committee selection. The Oscar will also be awarded directly to the director rather than the country—meaning that had the new rule applied earlier, Norwegian director Joachim Trier would have received the award for Sentimental Value directly.
Wider Implications and Voices of Caution
Senator Bernie Sanders has also weighed in on the 'existential threat' of AI, emphasizing that technology must serve humanity, not threaten its survival. The Academy's actions are seen as a bold step to preserve human-centric filmmaking while embracing diversity in global cinema. The 99th Academy Awards will take place in March 2027, marking the first ceremony fully governed by these new standards. Industry observers believe this will set a global precedent for how creative industries can navigate the age of generative AI.