Academy establishes new audit requirements for AI use in major film submissions

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued a historic update to its rulebook last Friday, establishing a definitive legal boundary between human and machine-generated performances.

The decision follows the April 2025 death of actor Val Kilmer, whose final, unfinished film role was completed using artificial intelligence.

This technological reconstruction raised unprecedented questions about acting honours, prompting the Academy to decree that only roles "demonstrably performed" by humans are now eligible for acting Oscars.

Under the new mandates, candidates must prove their performance originated from a human being and was conducted with their documented consent.

Studios are now prohibited from using a living or deceased actor's archived likeness or voice without explicit, project-specific approval.

Furthermore, the Academy reserved the right to request comprehensive production documentation to audit how AI was utilised in any film entering contention.

These restrictions extend to the writing categories, which now only accept screenplays that are strictly "human-authored" to protect the validity of the creative process.

In a significant shift for performers, the Academy also removed previous restrictions that prevented actors from receiving multiple nominations in a single category.

This allows an individual to compete against themselves if they deliver several top-tier performances in one year.

Additionally, the Best International Feature category will henceforth recognise directors by their personal names rather than just their country.

This change follows the recent win by Norwegian director Joachim Trier for "Sentimental Value", where the trophy was technically awarded to Norway.

Kilmer, who passed away at 65 following a long battle with pneumonia, leaves a legacy that has now reshaped the future of cinematic law.