Academy Rules Changes Require Oscars Voters to Watch All Nominated Films

The Academy Awards have announced a major new rule requiring all voting members to watch every nominated film in a category before participating in the final round of Oscars voting, a change that addresses longstanding criticism about voters not viewing all contenders. Previously, this was only a requirement for certain categories like Documentary and Shorts, but the new rule applies across the board and will take effect for the 98th Academy Awards. The move has sparked surprise and even disbelief online, as many assumed such a standard was already in place, with some calling the update long overdue. To verify compliance, the Academy will use its internal Screening Room platform and require documentation if films are viewed elsewhere. Additional rule changes were also introduced, including updated guidelines on the use of AI in films—clarifying that AI involvement will neither help nor harm a film's chances—and expanded eligibility for filmmakers with refugee or asylum status in the International Feature category. The overall response has been positive, with many in the film community and on social media applauding the Academy for promoting fairness and parity in the awards process.