LOS ANGELES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has ruled that actors created using artificial intelligence and AI-generated screenplays will not be eligible for Oscars, as it tightens regulations on the use of emerging technology in filmmaking.
Under the updated guidelines announced Friday, only human performers can qualify for acting awards. “In the Acting category, only roles credited in the film’s legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent will be considered eligible,” the Academy said.
Similarly, the organisation clarified that writing categories will be restricted to human creators. “In the Writing categories, the rules codify that screenplays must be human-authored to be eligible,” it added.
The move comes as debate intensifies over AI’s role in the entertainment industry, particularly following the unveiling of a digital recreation of late actor Val Kilmer in a new film trailer.
The AI-generated version, created with the support of his family, used archival footage to recreate the actor at different stages of his life.
Creative ownership
Concerns about AI’s impact on jobs and creative ownership have been a major issue in Hollywood, notably during the 2023 strikes by actors and writers, who warned that unchecked use of the technology could threaten livelihoods.
The Academy also introduced changes to its international feature film category. Films will no longer rely solely on official national submissions for eligibility. Non-English language films can now qualify if they win awards at major international festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, or Toronto.
Additionally, nominations in this category will recognise the film itself rather than a country, with directors’ names included alongside the title where applicable.
The changes signal a growing effort to define clear boundaries for AI use in the film industry while preserving human creativity at the core of cinema.
