After the 97th Oscars, in an effort to enhance the integrity of Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (AMPAS) introduced a new rule requiring members to watch all nominated films in a category before they vote.
This policy, effective from the 2025 Oscars, mandates that the voters confirm their viewing via the Academy’s Screening Room platform or submit a proof if they watch it elsewhere.
However, reports have surfaced indicating that Academy members are circumventing this
requirement.
According to a Variety article, certain voters have admitted to merely pressing play
on the Academy’s app, muting the audio, or switching tabs thereby satisfying the system’s
tracking without genuinely engaging with the content. One member confessed to starting a film before leaving for work, allowing it to play unattended.
The Academy’s enforcement of this rule largely relies on the honor system, with no stringent verification mechanisms in place. This has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the policy and the authenticity of the voting process. Critics and the film enthusiasts argue that loopholes like this undermine the very purpose of the rule, which is to ensure informed and fair voting.
Several long-lasting allegations and criticisms of bias and lack of divergence in the winners, led the Academy to enforce this new policy, however looking at the loopholes some of the members have already come up with, it seems that it requires more strict restrictions in order for it to work like it is intended.
As the Academy continues to refine its policies, the challenge of developing a system that not only enforces its effectiveness but also is able to retain the genuine engagement from the members, remains. Without these measures the Oscars may continue to face the scrutiny by the critics as well as the public in general.
