Only films with human actors, writers, will be eligible for Oscar nomination

15 May 2026

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organisation that presents the Oscar awards, recently clarified their rules regarding the use of AI in films they will accept nominations for.

According to rule two, regarding eligibility, specifically clause seven, there are instance where AI, and “other digital tools” (things like visual effects, computer-generated imagery, and green screen, I expect) can be used by filmmakers (PDF), to a degree :

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. If questions arise regarding the aforementioned use of Generative Artificial Intelligence, the Academy reserves the right to request more information about the nature of the use and human authorship.

Rule six, clause one, in regards to the acting awards, makes clear that only films with human actors can be nominated:

Only roles credited in the film’s legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent will be considered eligible.

Rule twenty-four, clause two, spells out eligibility for writing (screenplays, etc) Oscars:

To be eligible in either Writing category, an explicit screenwriting credit must be present in the film’s legal billing and the screenplay must be human-authored.

That covers the Oscars, for now, but raises the question: will there eventually be a separate set of “night of night” awards — that are nothing to do with the AMPAS/Oscars — for films that are wholly, or largely, made using AI technologies. My guess is it’s bound to happen sooner or later.