The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a major set of rule changes for the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled to take place in 2027. These updates reflect a significant shift in how nominations and awards will be handled, with a strong focus on expanding global representation and increasing flexibility across categories.
One of the most notable updates is in the acting categories, where performers will now be allowed to receive more than one nomination in the same category in a single year. This is possible only if both performances rank among the top five in the final voting process. This change is expected to open up new possibilities for actors delivering multiple standout performances within the same year.
The Best International Feature Film category has also undergone a major transformation. Countries will now be allowed to submit up to two films instead of one, significantly increasing the chances of diverse storytelling from across the world. In addition, films can now qualify not only through official country submissions but also by winning top awards at major international film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, Toronto, and Busan.
Another important shift is that the award in this category will now be presented directly to the film, with the director receiving the Oscar, instead of recognizing the submitting country. This marks a change in how international cinema is acknowledged on the global stage.
Beyond headline categories, the Academy has introduced several procedural updates across various branches. In the casting category, up to three individuals can now receive statuettes, compared to the earlier limit of two. The cinematography branch will also adopt a fixed shortlist of 20 films during preliminary voting.
Voting rules have been tightened in certain areas. Members of the makeup and hairstyling branch will now need to attend at least one official roundtable session to qualify for voting in the preliminary stage. Similarly, for visual effects, members must watch the “Before and After” presentation reels before casting their final votes.
The original song category has also been refined, requiring submissions to include a clip that connects the film’s ending moments to the credits when the song begins there. Additionally, the Governors Awards will now ensure broader representation, requiring honourees to collectively represent at least three different disciplines each year.
In response to evolving technology, the Academy has also reserved the right to request disclosures regarding the use of generative AI in filmmaking, including how much human contribution is involved.
The nominations for the 99th Academy Awards will be announced on January 21, 2027, with the ceremony set to take place on March 14, 2027. These sweeping changes indicate the Academy’s intent to modernize its processes and better reflect the global and technological evolution of cinema.
