In a significant shift ahead of the 99th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revised its long-standing rules for the Best International Feature Film category, a move that could widen the field for Indian cinema on the global stage.
Countries used to be limited to submitting one film per year officially for years. This limitation is no longer binding under the new rules. Any film that takes home the top prize at any of the following international film festivals - Cannes, Palme d'Or; Berlin, Golden Bear; Venice, Golden Lion; Sundance, World Cinema Grand Jury Prize; Toronto, Platform Award; and Busan - is automatically eligible for the Oscar race regardless of the country's official selection.
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Therefore, an entire country such as India would be allowed to have more than one film contesting the category annually.
A structural shift in global representation
The change marks a departure from the traditional model, where national committees determined a single entry, often sparking debate within film industries over which film deserved to represent the country.
Under the revised framework, festival recognition becomes an alternate pathway, potentially rewarding films that gain international acclaim but are not selected as official entries.
The Academy has also clarified that the Best International Feature award will now be credited to the film’s director, rather than being officially awarded to the submitting country. The director’s name will appear on the Oscar statuette and in official records.
Wider rule changes across categories
The Academy’s updates extend beyond the international category. In acting categories, performers can now receive multiple nominations in the same category if more than one performance ranks among the top five vote-getters, a departure from earlier rules that limited actors to a single nomination per category.
Academy Award Instagram/complex
The organisation has also tightened guidelines around authorship and technology. Only performances by human actors with consent will be eligible, while screenplay categories now formally require human authorship. The Academy has reserved the right to seek disclosures on the use of generative AI in submitted films.
Other changes include expanding the number of statuettes in the casting category from two to three, introducing a fixed shortlist of 20 films for cinematography, and mandating stricter viewing requirements for voting members in categories such as visual effects and makeup.
What it means for India
These regulations could be significant for Indian filmmakers. India has been under scrutiny for its method of selecting their entries, as some very acclaimed films have been overlooked in favor of being selected as their representative at the Oscars.
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By giving festival-winning movies an opportunity to compete on their own merit, the Oscars have opened another avenue through which diversity can be ensured without relying solely on one submission.
The 99th Oscars ceremony is set to occur on March 14, 2027.
