The Film Academy has set clear limits on artificial intelligence in the Academy Awards. As of March 2027, AI-generated performances and scripts written mostly by language models will be excluded from the competition. The decision comes after the Val Kilmer case, whose character in the film As Deep as the Grave has been digitally recreated without the actor participating in the shoot.
AI as a tool, not as the main creator 🎭
The regulation distinguishes between the technical use of AI, which remains permitted, and the main creative authorship, which must be human. This means that visual effects, color correction, or AI-assisted editing do not affect eligibility. However, a synthetic performer or a script generated entirely by a language model will not be eligible for a statuette. The Academy seeks to protect human work without hindering technical innovation in production.
Val Kilmer wins a posthumous Oscar... without having shot a single scene 🎬
The controversy arises with As Deep as the Grave, where Val Kilmer appears thanks to a digital recreation with AI. The actor died before filming, but his character will have minutes of footage. The Academy has said no, that is not acting, but digital magic. So, now the dead cannot compete for the best actor award. A relief for the living who still sweat on the set.