The Academy is introducing major changes to bring the Oscars to a wider international audience. During the 2026 Tokyo International Film Festival, Academy CEO Bill Kramer outlined plans to expand global participation and improve international film eligibility.
Moreover, the organization is preparing for a major broadcasting transition.
Starting in 2029, the Oscars will move from ABC to YouTube under a global streaming agreement.
Meanwhile, new eligibility rules will give certain international film festival winners another pathway to Oscar consideration.
Together, these developments reflect the Academy’s growing international ambitions.
Bill Kramer Discusses the Oscars’ Future in Tokyo
Academy CEO Bill Kramer traveled to Japan for the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
The event runs from October 26 through November 4, 2026.
Moreover, Kramer joined Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor and senior executive Meredith Shea.
The three leaders participated in the special Academy in Tokyo program.
During the visit, they discussed international cinema, Academy membership and the future of the Oscars.
Additionally, the program highlighted the organization’s efforts to strengthen global industry relationships.
As a result, Tokyo became an important destination for the Academy’s international outreach.
Academy Membership Continues to Expand Globally
The Academy’s membership is becoming increasingly international.
According to Kramer, approximately 25% of members now live outside the United States.
Moreover, this represents significant growth compared with a decade ago.
The change reflects efforts to include filmmakers and industry professionals from different countries.
Additionally, international productions have gained greater recognition across major Oscar categories.
The Academy wants its membership to reflect the global filmmaking community.
As a result, international representation has become an important organizational priority.
New Oscar Rules Create Opportunities for International Films
The Academy has introduced another qualification pathway for Best International Feature Film.
Previously, countries selected their official submissions for the category.
However, that process sometimes excluded internationally acclaimed productions.
Under the updated rules, winners of designated awards at six major film festivals can qualify for consideration.
Moreover, the new pathway applies even when a film is not selected as its country’s official entry.
The changes begin with the 99th Academy Awards.
However, qualification does not guarantee an Oscar nomination.
Instead, it allows eligible films to enter the consideration process.
Six Major Film Festivals Receive Qualifying Status
The Academy’s initial list includes six internationally recognized film festivals.
These are Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Busan, Sundance and Toronto.
Moreover, each festival has a designated qualifying award.
At Cannes, the Palme d’Or provides a pathway.
Meanwhile, Venice’s Golden Lion and Berlin’s Golden Bear are included.
The Busan Award for Best Film also qualifies.
Additionally, Sundance’s World Cinema Grand Jury Prize and Toronto’s Platform Award complete the list.
As a result, selected festival winners gain another opportunity to compete for Oscar consideration.
Why the Academy Changed International Film Eligibility
The traditional submission process depends heavily on national selection committees.
Each participating country chooses a film to represent it.
However, some acclaimed productions may not receive official national submissions.
The Academy’s new pathway addresses that limitation.
Moreover, it recognizes the importance of major international film festivals.
The organization wants to create more opportunities for filmmakers worldwide.
Additionally, the revised system could improve representation across different film industries.
As a result, festival recognition will play a greater role in determining eligibility.
Tokyo Film Festival Could Join the Qualifying List
The Tokyo International Film Festival is not included in the initial list.
However, Kramer indicated that the Academy plans to consider additional festivals.
During his Tokyo visit, questions arose about the festival’s possible inclusion.
The Academy CEO did not announce a final decision.
Instead, he emphasized the organization’s interest in expanding international partnerships.
Moreover, future additions could improve geographical representation.
The Academy continues discussions with festivals worldwide.
As a result, more qualifying events may be announced later.
Refugee Filmmakers Gain Additional Opportunities
The Academy has also addressed challenges faced by displaced filmmakers.
Some directors cannot return to their home countries because of conflict or political circumstances.
Moreover, their governments may be unable or unwilling to submit their films.
The Academy previously introduced provisions involving refugee filmmakers and host-country submissions.
Now, the additional festival pathway offers another potential route.
However, films must still meet the relevant eligibility requirements.
Together, these measures aim to improve access to the international feature competition.
As a result, more filmmakers may have opportunities to seek Oscar recognition.
Oscars Move From ABC to YouTube in 2029
One of the Academy’s biggest announcements concerns the future of Oscars broadcasting.
Beginning in 2029, the ceremony will move exclusively to YouTube.
Moreover, the global streaming agreement runs through 2033.
The 2028 ceremony will be the final Oscars broadcast under ABC’s current deal.
Afterward, YouTube will become the ceremony’s primary global distribution platform.
The move represents a major change for the long-running awards show.
Additionally, the Academy expects the partnership to expand international accessibility.
As a result, the Oscars will enter a new era of digital broadcasting.
YouTube Could Expand the Oscars’ Global Audience
YouTube offers access to a massive international audience.
Kramer highlighted the platform’s reach of approximately 2.5 billion users worldwide.
Moreover, the Academy plans to make the ceremony available in more than 30 languages.
The broadcast will also be accessible free of charge.
Additionally, the platform could help attract younger viewers.
The Academy hopes to make the Oscars easier to watch across different countries.
However, wider availability does not automatically guarantee stronger audience engagement.
Nevertheless, the agreement creates significant opportunities for international growth.
Free Streaming Marks a Major Change
The Academy plans to make the Oscars available globally through YouTube.
This approach could reduce barriers associated with traditional television distribution.
Moreover, viewers in different regions could follow the ceremony through one digital platform.
Multiple language options would also improve accessibility.
Additionally, online distribution offers new possibilities for audience interaction.
However, the Academy must still deliver an engaging awards ceremony.
The success of the transition will depend on both accessibility and presentation.
As a result, the 2029 Oscars could become an important milestone in the event’s history.
Academy Promises Creative Independence
The YouTube agreement has raised questions about editorial control.
Some observers have expressed concerns about whether the platform could influence the ceremony’s content.
However, Kramer emphasized the Academy’s commitment to creative independence.
He indicated that the organization would not accept censorship under the new arrangement.
Moreover, he said Google and YouTube understand the Academy’s position.
The organization intends to maintain authority over the ceremony’s creative presentation.
Additionally, it wants to preserve the Oscars’ identity while expanding global access.
As a result, editorial independence remains an important part of the broadcasting transition.
What the Changes Mean for the Oscars
The Academy’s new initiatives address several challenges.
First, international eligibility changes create additional opportunities for qualifying films.
Moreover, global membership growth brings a wider range of industry perspectives.
The YouTube agreement also changes how audiences will watch the ceremony.
However, these initiatives serve different purposes.
Eligibility reforms affect the awards process.
Meanwhile, digital distribution focuses on audience accessibility.
Together, they demonstrate the Academy’s efforts to adapt to an increasingly international entertainment industry.
What Happens Next for the Academy Awards?
The 99th Academy Awards will introduce the updated international feature qualification pathway.
Moreover, the Academy will continue considering additional film festivals.
No timetable has been confirmed for expanding the qualifying list.
Meanwhile, preparations for the YouTube transition will continue ahead of 2029.
The organization is also strengthening relationships with international filmmakers.
Additionally, its leadership remains focused on global membership and outreach.
As a result, further developments are expected as these initiatives progress.
Oscars Go Global: Final Thoughts
The Oscars are entering a new phase as Bill Kramer and the Academy pursue greater international participation.
The Tokyo International Film Festival provided an important platform for discussing these changes.
Moreover, updated eligibility rules will create additional opportunities for international films.
The Academy’s growing global membership also reflects the worldwide influence of cinema.
Meanwhile, the move to YouTube in 2029 promises a new broadcasting experience.
However, the organization must balance accessibility, creative independence and its established awards traditions.
Ultimately, these changes could reshape how filmmakers and audiences connect with Hollywood’s biggest awards ceremony.
Do you think the Oscars’ move to YouTube and expanded international film rules will improve the Academy Awards? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow Awesome TV for the latest Oscars news, film festival updates and Hollywood entertainment coverage!
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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