Oscars Will Always Reward Human-Led Films, Academy Says

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Lynette Howell Taylor said at the Tokyo International Film Festival that even as AI goes deeper into filmmaking, the Oscars will always reward work led by humans and driven by human creativity.

She noted AI is already used in visual effects and post-production. Technology can lift the viewing experience, but a film's core must be a human-driven workflow. Copyright, transparency, and disclosure are real issues the Academy must face when setting AI rules. If AI replaces core human creative work, a film may struggle to win Oscar recognition.

The Academy is also opening wider doors for international films. Under new rules for the 99th Oscars, non-English films that win top awards at festivals like Berlin or Cannes can qualify without official country submissions. Non-US members now make up 25% of the Academy as it builds global ties.