Oscars
99th Oscars rules: committee drafts, Board approves, submissions run Aug. 13 to Nov. 12
The Academy's Awards Committee drafts Oscar rules, the Board of Governors approves them, and the 99th Oscars' campaign and submission calendar is now set.
The Awards Desk
The Awards Desk covers the Oscars, the Emmys and the campaigns, rules and voters behind them. Articles under this byline draw on public records, official data and published reporting, and are checked against their sources before publication.
Stories by The Awards Desk
Academy Awards
Why Best Picture Had Five to Ten Nominees From 2011 to 2020
Best Picture's slate has ranged from five to ten films under the Academy's nomination ballot. Here is how the count works and where the sources differ.
Oscars
Why Oscar Campaign Costs Keep Rising as the Academy Tightens Lobbying Rules
Studios navigate strict Academy rules by investing heavily in trade advertising, screenings and events. As regulations tighten, campaign costs rise.
Oscars rules
Three New Oscar Rules Allow Multiple Nominations and Ban AI Performances
Multiple acting nominations, festival-qualified international features, and AI performance bans eliminate campaign constraints and open new pathways for studios and filmmakers.
film festivals
How the 2026 Fall Festivals Reset the Best Picture Race
Venice, Telluride and Toronto crowned unexpected winners. Netflix's historic People's Choice Award victory may reshape Oscar politics.
awards
What Studios Can and Can't Spend to Court Oscar Voters
Studios must navigate strict rules about screenings, gifts, and voter contact. The Academy caps spending and prohibits many traditional lobbying tactics.
Oscars
Why the Academy Now Lets Festival Wins Qualify Films for Best International Feature
The Academy's Best International Feature now allows festival winners to qualify without country submission, reshaping the 2027 race after France rejected Anatomy of a Fall.
Academy Awards
Oscars' acting rule: only human performers, with their consent
The Academy now requires performances to be demonstrably performed by humans with the performer's consent. Here's how the 2026 rule works and what it means for film production.
Emmy Awards
What Widow's Bay's 14-Win Sweep and Matthew Rhys's Double Emmy Reveal About Voting
The 78th Emmy Awards revealed how independent peer group voting actually works, and what it means for campaign strategy in the next awards cycle.
awards campaigns
What studios need to know about awards submission requirements and deadlines
Feature films and TV shows must navigate distinct eligibility rules, technical specs and deadlines across the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Emmys to qualify for consideration.
Oscars
How the Academy verifies Oscar voters have watched nominated films
The Academy requires voting members to verify they've watched all nominated films in their categories before casting final ballots, using the secure Screening Room digital platform.
Oscars
How Telluride and Toronto Reshuffled the Best Picture Race
Venice, Telluride and an unfinished Toronto festival have sorted this year's Oscar hopefuls into clear gainers, mixed cases and titles still waiting for a verdict.