New Oscar rules make it mandatory for voters to watch nominated films to qualify for voting

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is making it mandatory for the members to watch all the nominated movies before the final voting. While earlier this was not a compulsory requirement in all categories, the new move ensures that the members can make an informed decision while casting their votes.

As per Entertainment Weekly, a representative of the Academy shared,

“There is also a 'seen elsewhere' form that members will need to submit before finals voting. If you have not viewed a title, the award category will be inaccessible (greyed). For the specialty categories, we will still require viewing in prelims and noms as usual. For this year, we will now require viewing in finals voting for all categories and all voting members."

What will the new rule mean for the future of the Academy Awards?

The Academy has been expanding with several new and younger members. Until now, the voting was based on the honor system. The members were told to not cast their vote in case they hadn’t seen all the movies in a category. The new move, however, will ensure that the members have all the necessary information before they vote.

As per the new Oscar rules by the group’s Board of Governors, the voters are eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars only after they have watched all the nominated films in the category. As per the e-voting system for the final round of voting, if the member has not verified that they have watched all the nominees, they cannot vote. Along with this, while previously only the movie title appeared in the final ballot, henceforth all designated nominee names will also appear along with it.

The Academy will be tracking the viewing through the members-only streaming platform app Academy Screening Room. In case the member has seen the movie otherwise, they are required to fill out a form stating all the details for the same. The members will get access to final round ballots for categories post the confirmation of having watched all the movies.

Academy rules and eligibility also included the much-discussed use of artificial intelligence in film-making. The Academy is not restricting the use of AI. As per The Hollywood Reporter,

“With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination. The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award.”

For the first time, achievement in casting will be eligible at the Oscars in 2026. The voting for Animated Short Film nominations is now open to all Academy members. Also, the international feature film eligibility is applicable to filmmakers with refugee status.

The 98th Oscar Awards is slated to take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

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