Academy sets new campaign rules, deadlines, voting for 96th Oscars

In the wake of last Oscar season’s wild west campaigning that found dozens of actors circling their wagons for Andrea Riseborough all the way to a surprise Best Actress nod for To Leslie, private shindigs for Tom Cruise and Academy president Janet Yang publicly endorsing eventual Best Actress winner Michelle Yeoh, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced Monday its “most significant overhaul” of the campaign promotional regulation and awards rules for the upcoming 96th Oscars.

The updated rules aim to quash the social media frenzy where actors like Titanic’s Francis Fisher openly asked voters to not vote for contenders including Viola Davis in The Woman King and Danielle Deadwyler in Till as they were seen as assured nominees and to instead favor Riseborough. In the end, only Riseborough was nominated. Eyebrows were also raised over a private party Jerry Bruckheimer allowed his Beverly Hills residence to be used by former Paramount Pictures head Sherry Lansing to throw a party for Tom Cruise on behalf of Top Gun: Maverick, which earned a Best Picture nomination. Cruise, however, did not earn a Best Actor nod.

Those anonymous Oscar ballots that pop up every season at the major and minor outlets? The Academy wants them to be a thing of the past.

Following are key communications rules for Academy members, motion picture companies, and individuals directly associated with eligible motion pictures:

• You may encourage others to view motion pictures.
• You may praise motion pictures and achievements.
• You may not share your voting decisions at any point.
• You may not discuss your voting preferences and other members’ voting preferences in a public forum. This includes comparing or ranking motion pictures, performances, or achievements in relation to voting. This also includes speaking with press anonymously.
• You may not attempt to encourage other members to vote for or not vote for any motion picture or achievement.
• You may not lobby other members directly or in a manner outside of the scope of these promotional regulations to advance a motion picture, performance, or achievement.

While these types of campaigning are not only not new but have been a part of the fabric and ecosystem of Hollywood, AMPAS is attempting to corral them, or at least how they’re seen. New rules officially recognize private events and gatherings of Academy members but they will not recognize them as official FYC events, so studios and PR firms are forbidden from funding, organizing or endorsing them.

There is, however, now a limit to the number of hosted screenings pre-nominations to a maximum of four and the elimination entirely of hosted screenings post-nominations. The Academy also removed the limitation of four moderated Q&As post-nominations, which is now unlimited.

The Board of Governors are barred from hosting these private events, gatherings, screenings or moderating any Q&A or panel discussion unless they are directly associated with the motion picture itself.

Social media may not be used for discussing voting preferences, decisions, strategies, or eligibility requirements of any kind

Physical forms of outreach, including postcards and screening schedules, are not allowed but studios, marketing firms and filmmakers may now refer to a film as “shortlisted” in promotional materials as long as the shortlisted category or categories are specified.

The Board of Governors also established an email hotline through which members or non-members can confidentially report suspected campaign violations — promotionalregulations@oscars.org; noting that penalties for violations “may include but are not limited to: suspending or revoking mailing house and communications privileges; revoking privileges to attend Academy events; disqualifying a motion picture, performance or achievement for awards consideration; rescinding an Oscar nomination; revoking voting privileges; suspending Academy membership; and expelling a member from the Academy.”

The substantive updates and changes are noted below:

• Clarification of rules regarding private events and gatherings.
• Clarification of rules regarding general and direct communications to Academy members.
• Clarification of rules regarding public communications, including on social media.
• Clarification of rules for “For Your Consideration” screenings, Q&A sessions and panel discussions.
• Expanded language on regulation violations and penalties, including the process for reporting and reviewing a violation.

The complete list of campaign rules and regulation can be found here. The complete list of rules and eligibility for the 96th Oscars can be found here.

Submission deadlines and additional key dates are as follows:

Tuesday, August 15, 2023: First submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories

Friday, September 15, 2023: First submission deadline for Animated Feature Film and General Entry categories released from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023

Monday, October 2, 2023: Final submission deadline for Documentary Feature Film and International Feature Film categories

Monday, October 16, 2023: Final submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories

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 from July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023

Thursday, December 14, 2023: Voting begins for Oscar shortlists

Monday, December 18, 2023: Voting ends for Oscar shortlists

Sunday, January 11, 2024: Oscar nomination voting begins

Saturday, January 13, 2024: Visual Effects nominating bake-off screenings

Sunday, January 14, 2024: Makeup and Hairstyling nominating screening and Sound nominating bake-offs

AMPAS also changed the makeup of voting eligibility in two categories; the International Feature Film category rules now stipulate that selection committees must comprise at least 50% filmmakers (artists and/or craftspeople) and for Live Action Short Film, voting privileges will be extended to all Academy members who opt in to participate.

These rules and eligibility requirements are in conjunction with the Aperture 2025 initiative announced in 2020 which goes into effect this season. The initiative establishes layers of eligibility requirements a film must meet to qualify for a Best Picture nomination