Oscars Rule Change: Members Must See All Nominees Before Voting

Forbes

21-04-2025

TOPSHOT - An Oscar statue is pictured at the red carpet of the 96th Annual Academy Awards at the ... More Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 9, 2024. The 96th Annual Academy Awards will be held on March 10. (Photo by PEDRO UGARTE / AFP) (Photo by PEDRO UGARTE/AFP via Getty Images)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced new rules for the Oscars Monday, including one that requires members to prove they've seen all the nominees in the category they're voting on.
Following the lead of rules for the voting membership of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, aka the BAFTAs, AMPAS members must see all of the films in the category before casting their votes, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
THR said in a report on Monday that the membership seeing all of the nominees 'has become more of a concern for the Academy in recent years since the organization massively expanded its membership and brought in a lot of younger members who are busier with their careers.'
Prior to the rule change, THR reported, AMPAS allowed votes to be cast through an honor system. Now, however, members casting votes in particular categories must provide 'anecdotal evidence' before accessing votes in the Academy's e-ballot system.
THR said the evidence that a member has viewed a nominee can be tracked by AMPAS by checking their use of the Academy's screening app. If the voting member sees the film at an awards screening or film festival, they will have to verify it by filling out a form to validate what they've seen and when.
Diane Warren at the 97th Oscars held at the Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, ... More California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Penske Media via Getty Images)
In addition to viewing requirements, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences also announced a significant change Monday to the way nominations for the Best Original Song category.
Oscar ballots going forward will now list the composer of the song next to the name of the song, which hasn't been done in the past, THR reported. As such, the trade publication suggested, prolific composer Diane Warren — who has lost all 16 times she's been nominated for Best Original Song — might have received more support in the past had they known that she composed a nominated song.
At current, the only individuals listed next to their nominated film on the ballot are actors, THR said.
Other changes, according to the trade publication, include allowing filmmakers with refugee or asylum status to be considered for Best International Feature from the country they fled from instead of requiring residence in the country to submit their film.
In addition, AMPAS is tackling the AI controversy that emerged last awards season following revelations that AI was used to aid certain audio aspects of The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez. Both films earned several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
The Academy's Science and Technology Council addressed the concern over AI in a statement (via THR) that reads, '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.'
Shortlist rules were also announced for the Best Cinematography and new Best Casting category on Monday, and the rules listing of nominated producers in the Best Picture category has been more refined, THR reported.
Several key dates for the 98th Oscars were announced on Monday. The nominations will be unveiled on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, while the 98th Oscars ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 15.