The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled a series of exciting updates for the 98th Academy Awards®, and let’s just say, the stakes are higher than ever. With stricter rules, new categories, and a fresh approach to transparency, the 2025 awards season is set to be an unforgettable one.
The 98th Oscars® will air live on March 15, 2026.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting: Academy members will now be required to watch every nominated film in each category before they can vote in the final round. Gone are the days of voting based on hearsay or half-watched screeners. If you want to be part of the decision-making process, you’ll need to earn it. But while this sounds promising, the Academy hasn’t quite explained how they plan to enforce this rule… so we’ll be curious to see how that plays out.
Another change is that all nominees’ names will now appear on the final ballot. No more anonymous categories—every individual being honoured will get their moment in the spotlight. This move adds an extra layer of recognition for the talented individuals who bring our favourite films to life.
But wait—there’s more… The Academy Award for Achievement in Casting is officially making its debut. This new category will feature a preliminary round of voting to determine a shortlist of 10 films. From there, the Casting Directors Branch will review the nominees through a “bake-off” presentation, including a Q&A session with the nominated casting directors. The big question, though—will this new category make it to the primetime show, or will it take its place at the Governors’ Ball? Stay tuned.
In a statement, the Academy also revealed some of the substantive changes to the rules for film eligibility, particularly in regard to the rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in filmmaking. As recommended by the Academy’s Science and Technology Council, the following language has been introduced:
“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.”
So, what does all this mean? The Academy is clearly setting the stage for a more rigorous, transparent, and celebratory awards season.
Main Image: The Academy
