Oscars 2027 will introduce several new rules from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences aimed at keeping the awards fair and relevant in a changing film industry.
The most talked-about update is a firm stance on artificial intelligence; while the Academy is not banning AI tools entirely, it has ruled that all screenplays must be human-authored and all acting roles must be performed by real people with their consent. This means AI-generated actors or fully AI-written scripts are officially ineligible for the movie industry’s highest honors in the Oscars 2027.
Another major shift allows actors to receive multiple nominations within a single category for the first time. If a performer delivers two standout leading roles in one year, they can now occupy two slots in the Best Actor or Actress race, provided both performances rank in the top five during voting.
Every major rule change in the Oscars 2027
One of the most symbolic shifts involves the Best International Feature Film category. For decades, this award was bestowed upon a country or region rather than the person who created the work. Starting with the Oscars 2027, the golden statuette will finally be awarded directly to the director on behalf of their nation.
This means the filmmaker’s name will be etched onto the Oscar plaque and immortalized in the official record books, providing long-overdue recognition to the creative visionaries behind global cinema.
Another major change in Oscars 2027 involves acting nominations. Performers can now be nominated for multiple roles in the same category, a rule that aligns acting categories with others like directing or writing. This brings back a practice that existed in the earliest years of the Oscars, allowing actors to compete against themselves if they deliver multiple strong performances in a single year.
This alignment brings the acting branch in line with other categories, such as Directing or Original Score, where individuals have long been able to earn multiple nods in a single year. Technical and craft categories are also seeing significant “tinkers” for the Oscars 2027.
The Academy has expanded the number of individuals eligible to win for Best Casting from two to three, recognizing the collaborative nature of finding the perfect ensemble. In the Cinematography category, the shortlist will now strictly feature 20 films, providing a more consistent field of competition.
Furthermore, the Academy is tightening its participation requirements; for instance, Makeup and Hairstyling branch members must now attend specific final meetings to vote on their shortlist, and Visual Effects voters must watch specialized “before and after” reels to ensure their decisions are based on technical merit.
Even the campaign trail is changing. For the Oscars 2027, promotional Q&A sessions can now feature two moderators, and all email blasts to members must provide accessibility contact information for event venues.
The 2027 Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 14, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The show starts at 7 p.m. ET, while the official nominations will be revealed earlier that year on Thursday, January 21.
Edited by Suchita Patnaha