Oscars 2025 Shakeup: Discover the New Rules Changing the Game!

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced updates to its awards regulations, promotional campaign rules, and significant dates for the 98th Oscars.

The period for nominations voting is scheduled from Monday, January 12, to Friday, January 16. The announcement of the official nominees will take place on Thursday, January 22, followed by the annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon on Tuesday, February 10. The final voting session to decide the winners will commence on Wednesday, February 26, and conclude on Wednesday, March 5, ten days before the live event.

Significant updates include changes to voting requirements, the debut of an Achievement in Casting award, and explicit rules regarding the application of generative artificial intelligence in film production. These alterations also extend the eligibility for international filmmakers and introduce new deadlines for submissions in various categories.

A notable procedural change mandates that Academy members must watch all nominated films in a category to vote in the final round. This requirement, although seemingly obvious, raises questions about how the Academy will ensure compliance and enforce this mandate.

In alignment with BAFTA’s voting approach, Academy members will now access final round ballots only for categories where they have confirmed viewing all nominated films. The Academy will track member’s viewing through its exclusive Academy Screening Room streaming service. For films watched at festivals, screenings, or private events, members will need to submit a form detailing the viewing circumstances. This verification method, previously used in preliminary and nomination voting for certain categories, is now expanded to all categories to minimize uninformed voting.

Another update ensures that all designated nominees, not just the film titles, will appear on the final ballot, a change that benefits regular nominees such as songwriter Diane Warren and sound designer Greg P. Russell.

For the first time, the Oscars will include an award for Achievement in Casting to honor the collaborative effort of casting directors, filmmakers, and producers in creating a film’s cast. The Casting Directors Branch will evaluate eligible films and shortlist up to ten, focusing on the level of creative input during the casting process. This shortlist will be showcased at a “Bake-Off” event where branch members will review five-minute reels and engage in Q&As with the casting directors.

Casting directors of shortlisted films will need to provide a detailed description of their casting process and either a photo grid or a complete cast list. The Branch Executive Committee will identify up to two main individuals responsible for the casting to be credited. In special cases, a third may be considered. This process may involve consultations with producers and directors, with the Executive Committee making the final eligibility decisions, pending Board of Governors’ approval.

Following the Bake-Off, Casting Branch members who have viewed all ten films will vote to select five nominees. An edited version of the presentations and cast materials will be provided to all Academy members for the final voting, open to both active and life members. Any disputes or eligibility concerns must be addressed by a specified deadline.

The cinematography award will also be part of the shortlist process, with the Cinematographers Branch naming 10 to 20 films for consideration. Voting for all shortlist categories, which now includes sound, visual effects, and makeup and hairstyling, among others, will occur from December 8 to 12. Currently, 12 artisan categories utilize shortlists, with only a few categories still determined directly through the nomination phase.

The Academy has also issued its inaugural guidelines on the use of AI in filmmaking. The new rules specify that generative AI and other digital tools will not influence a film’s nomination prospects. Instead, the focus will be on the extent of human creative involvement.

For Best Picture consideration, films must submit documentation to the Producers Guild of America according to their release schedule. Films released in the first half of 2025 have a deadline of September 10, while those released in the second half must submit by November 13. This adjusted timeline aims to prevent the confusion experienced in previous seasons.

Additional changes include:

The 2025 Oscars season kicks off in August and concludes with the live broadcast in March. A complete schedule of submission deadlines, voting periods, and special events is detailed on the official Oscars website.

The upcoming film lineup is promising, featuring works by notable directors such as Guillermo del Toro, Chloé Zhao, Yorgos Lanthimos, and the Safdie brothers. These films are likely to generate significant interest and competition.

All regulations and dates for the 98th Academy Awards are subject to modifications. The Oscars are scheduled for March 15, 2026.