Classify this narrative under the “When did it change?” category, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed new guidelines for the 2025 Academy Awards season. This will mandate that judges view all nominees within a specific category prior to casting their vote for the victor.
The reality that Academy members have not been required to watch each officially nominated film in all categories has long been a disputed element of Oscar evaluations. In earlier years, judges could submit a vote for Best Picture, for instance, even if they had not viewed all the films.
In what is bound to be a decision that provokes discussion among both supporters and critics, this will now change. However, the Academy’s press announcement, which details the new guideline, does not clarify how a voter will verify that they have viewed all films (or if they will even need to confirm it).
Another interesting note in the announcement discusses how the Academy will handle films incorporating generative AI. It states, with a somewhat vague approach, that utilizing it in film production will “neither enhance nor diminish the likelihood of receiving a nomination.” Additionally, it mentions that “the Academy and each branch will evaluate the work, considering the extent to which human contribution was central to the creative process when determining which film to honor.”
These represent the most significant alterations to the regulations for the imminent ceremony.
