Academy plans to add festivals that can qualify films for the International Feature Oscar

Centre · 1Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer told Deadline in Tokyo that the Academy will expand the list of festivals that can serve as standalone qualifiers for the International Film Oscar category. 1 Centre · 1"Our plan is to expand the number of festivals," Kramer said, and he added that the Academy is in constant conversation with festivals around the world. 1 Mixed · 2Under the current rules, a non-English-language film can qualify without being its country's official submission by winning the top prize at one of six festivals: Berlin, Busan, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and Venice. Deadline says the rules were introduced in May, and Variety says they apply to the 99th Oscars. 1 2

Centre · 1Kramer said the Academy started with six festivals because it wanted juried awards, which not every festival has. 1 Left · 1Meredith Shea, the Academy's chief membership, impact and industry officer, told Variety that the six initial festivals were chosen for their submission numbers and global reach. She said the International Feature Executive Committee will review the rules each year to make sure they represent global filmmakers. 2 Left · 1Variety asked whether eligibility could go beyond a festival's top prize. It cited Andrey Zvyagintsev's "Minotaur", which nearly missed out after winning the Cannes Grand Prix rather than the Palme d'Or, before France selected it. Shea did not commit to a specific change. 2

Mixed · 2Kramer described the festival route as a step after the earlier rule letting refugee filmmakers who are no longer in their home country be submitted by a host-country committee. He told Variety, "we are always looking at ways to invite more filmmakers into that mix," and "I think you will see that continue." 1 2 Centre · 1Kramer, Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor and Shea are in Tokyo for a series of public talks called Academy in Tokyo at the Tokyo International Film Festival, which runs until November 4. Kramer is also due to receive an honorary leadership award. 1 Mixed · 2Both interviews tie the changes to a push to globalise the Academy. Kramer said 25% of members now live outside the United States, and he linked the 2029 move of the ceremony to YouTube to that growth. He said YouTube can reach 2.5 billion people in more than 30 languages. 1 2

Centre · 1Deadline reports that YouTube won the Oscars rights in December 2025, with a deal running through 2033 that starts with the 101st ceremony. Asked about content control, Kramer said, "There’s no censorship allowed at the Academy, at the Oscars, or on our broadcast." 1 Left · 1Variety adds that Howell Taylor said the Oscars will always reward "human excellence" as AI spreads through filmmaking. She also cited concerns about copyright, transparency and disclosure. 2