Building on initial 99th Academy Awards rule announcements, the Academy has clarified exclusions for AI-generated actors and screenplays, responding to Hollywood unions' concerns over synthetic likenesses and job threats. Other updates allow multiple top acting nods and award Best International Feature directly to directors.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences refined its eligibility rules Friday for the 99th Oscars, stipulating awards only for 'roles credited in the film's legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent.' AI-altered screenplays require human authorship, and producers may need to provide proof of human involvement.
These measures address cases like writer-director Coerte Voorhees' use of generative AI to recreate Val Kilmer's likeness in As Deep as the Grave, approved by Kilmer's estate after his 2025 death. The rules reflect broader industry debates, fueled by 2023 SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild strikes over AI's potential to replace performers and writers via unauthorized likenesses or synthetic content.
SAG-AFTRA declined comment, while the Writers Guild did not immediately respond.
Additional changes include permitting performers like Zendaya multiple Best Actress nominations (e.g., for Dune: Part Three and Nolan's The Odyssey) and directing the Best International Feature plaque to the director. The annual updates adapt to technologies like AI while prioritizing human creativity, complementing prior series coverage of the overall rule approvals.
