The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is instituting Oscar inclusion standards that were voted on three years ago by AMPAS’ Board of Governors, the organization announced Monday. But this year’s changes do not alter the rules governing theatrical distribution of films in contention for 96he Academy Awards.
Over the past month, rumors have circulated that the board was considering much stricter ratings rules that would require extensive theatrical showings and potentially hurt streamers like Netflix. But the 54-member board did not change existing requirements at their annual meeting to review Oscar rules and campaign rules. As with last year, films will still be able to qualify with a seven-day theatrical release in one of six cities, even if the film opens on VOD or streaming on the same day as its theatrical release.
The board is now believed to be considering the issue of new theatrical regulations, but for the 97th Academy Awards in 2025, not the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. (A change for the movies released this year would have required exceptions to be made for movies that have already been released under the previous rules).
The biggest change to Oscar eligibility is one that was originally announced in 2020, with a three-year delay to allow filmmakers and studios to adjust to the new requirements. To qualify for the Best Film category, 2023 films will need to submit a Representation and Inclusion (RAISE) Entry Form demonstrating that they met inclusion and diversity standards in two of four areas: Screen Representation, Themes, and Narratives. ; Creative Leadership and Project Team; Industry Access and Opportunities; and audience development.
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Each area contains multiple ways to qualify, including casting lead or supporting actors from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups; hire two department heads who are women, racial/ethnic, LGBTQ+, or who have cognitive or physical disabilities; providing paid internships to women or underrepresented groups; or having more than one senior internal executive from an underrepresented group at the company releasing the film.
Almost every Best Picture nominee in the last three years would have qualified under those requirements. The full standards are here.
Other changes for the 2023 Oscars include two film screening dates: September 15 for films released between January 1 and June 30 and November 15 for films released between July 1 and December 31. In the Best International Feature Film category, the selection committee for each country choosing that country’s Oscar submission must now be made up of at least 50% filmmakers, while voting in the Best Action Short category Live will now be open to any member who wishes to participate. (Previously, only members of the Animated Short and Feature Films and Directors Branches were eligible to vote in the nomination round.)
The Oscar Campaign Regulations were significantly clarified, prompted by the controversy over the “grassroots” campaign that resulted in a Best Actress nomination for Andrea Riseborough earlier this year. When the Academy chose not to discipline Riseborough herself for a social media campaign that found some of her supporters were violating existing rules, she also promised to clarify the rules of her campaign.
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The new regulations allow private events and gatherings, as long as the film companies do not finance, organize or endorse those events; explain that social networks and direct communication with members cannot discuss decisions, preferences or voting strategies; limit the number of “staged” screenings to four in the pre-nomination phase and none post-nomination, but allow an unlimited number of Q&A screenings; place additional restrictions on Academy Governors at the campaign stage; and eliminate all physical forms of disclosure: no letters, postcards, screening schedules, etc. All communications can only be sent digitally via “an Academy approved mail house.”
The rules also detail penalties and establish a process for reporting potential violations.
The complete rules and regulations of the campaign are available at oscars.org/rules.
These are the dates for 2023:
Tuesday, August 15, 2023: First registration period for the categories of Animated Short Film, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film
Friday, September 15, 2023: First Submission Deadline for Animated Feature Film and General Entry Categories
Monday, October 2, 2023: Final submission deadline for the Documentary Feature and International Feature Film categories
Monday, October 16, 2023: Final submission deadline for the categories of Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film
Wednesday, November 1, 2023: Final submission deadline for Music (Original Score) and Music (Original Song) categories
Wednesday, November 15, 2023: Final Submission Deadline for Animated Feature Film and General Entry Categories
Saturday, January 13, 2024: Visual Effects Nomination Screening (bake-off)
Sunday, January 14, 2024: Screening of makeup and hairstyling nominations and screening of sound nominations (bake-offs)