In a groundbreaking update to its voting policies, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has mandated that members must confirm they have viewed all nominated films in each category before casting their votes. This new requirement aims to enhance the integrity and credibility of the Oscars.
Implementation Details
Starting with the 97th Academy Awards, voters will find that they can only unlock their ballots in the final voting phase if they have verified that they have watched all nominees in a category. This applies to all 24 competitive categories, encompassing everything from Best Picture and the acting fields to technical categories like Costume Design and the newly introduced award for Casting.
The process will utilize the Academy Screening Room (ASR), a members-only streaming service. Films watched in full on this platform will automatically contribute to the viewer’s voting eligibility.
For films viewed outside of ASR—such as at guild screenings, film festivals, or theatrical releases—members will need to fill out an online form detailing when and where they viewed the film. This self-reporting system is grounded in an honor-based approach already in place for specific categories like International Feature and Documentary.
Rationale Behind the Change
The primary goal of this initiative is to curb “coattail voting,” where voters may choose nominees based on their prevailing fame or buzz rather than their actual merit. Such voting behaviors can lead to recognition being overshadowed for more deserving, but less publicized, films and performances.
By necessitating that all contenders in a category be viewed, the Academy seeks to foster a more informed voting process, particularly benefitting independent films that often lack extensive marketing resources.
Concerns about privacy regarding ASR tracking viewer habits have largely been dismissed, with voters reminded that data tracking is standard across digital platforms. Positive feedback has been noted among members regarding this updated protocol.
Implications for Voters
It is essential to note that this requirement only impacts the final voting phase, leaving the nomination stage unaffected. For instance, if a voter only watches the ten nominees for Best Picture, they would already be eligible to vote in multiple categories like Best Director and Film Editing.
To exercise their voting rights in additional categories, members would simply need to watch the nominated films relevant to those fields. The initiative emphasizes the responsibilities accompanying Oscar voting and ensures a level of commitment from voters.
Immediate Implementation
This rule is set to take effect for the upcoming awards season. Any member concerned about the ability to watch every nominated film is encouraged to utilize available resources such as screeners and virtual Q&As.
The underlying principle is straightforward: if voters have not seen a film, they should refrain from voting on it. Such a change could inspire other award bodies to adopt similar regulations to ensure fairer voting practices across the industry.
Mark your calendars: the Oscars are scheduled for March 15.