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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the rules for the 99th Oscars on May 1. The changes apply to films with qualifying theatrical releases between January 1 and December 31, 2026, with the ceremony scheduled for early 2027.
The largest changes are to the International Feature Film category — historically the only realistic route into the Oscars for non-English-language films. Until now, only one path existed: a country's national selection committee submitted one film per year to the Academy, and any film not picked by its country was ineligible. The system has long been criticized for political interference in committee decisions, inconsistent committee organization across countries, and the absence of any functional submission body in many places, including much of Africa.
