The latest rules for international, non-English language films qualifying for the 99th Oscars in 2027 could significantly widen the entry path for Indian cinema.
The new framework allows more than one entry per country if films have won top honours at six major festivals—Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, Toronto or Busan—effectively bypassing the country’s official selection process.
While the move is seen as a major opportunity for India’s regional and independent cinema, industry experts warn that global visibility and expensive Hollywood campaigns remain the biggest barriers.
Rule shift
Under the revised framework, independently produced films made on modest budgets can compete in the international feature category alongside the country’s official submission.
“The biggest consequence for Indian cinema is that the Academy’s revised International Feature Film framework weakens the historic ‘single gatekeeper’ problem. Until now, India’s Oscar journey was almost entirely dependent upon one official submission selected through the domestic committee process. That frequently left internationally celebrated Indian films without a realistic route to the Oscars despite strong festival reception abroad,” said Tushar Kumar, advocate, Supreme Court of India.
The revised rules could particularly benefit regional and auteur-driven cinema from industries such as Malayalam, Marathi, Assamese, Bengali and Tamil that often gain international recognition but lack institutional support at home, Kumar added.
Global access
By expanding eligibility and allowing multiple submissions from the same country, the Academy has widened access for stories across languages and markets.
“This growth in opportunity will, in turn, enhance prospects for investment in the industry,” said Pooja Kapadia, partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
Increased international recognition may also encourage foreign investment into Indian cinema, especially since 100% foreign direct investment is already allowed under the automatic route, pointed out Rishika Harish, advocate, Bombay High Court.
Campaign gap
However, experts stressed that relaxed eligibility alone will not guarantee Oscar success.
“That said, the biggest challenge will still be campaign spending and global visibility. Making a great film is only one part of the journey. Oscar campaigns require a significant investment in international screenings, PR, marketing, festival runs, travel, and industry outreach,” said Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, managing director, Miraj Entertainment Ltd.
“For many independent Indian films, even recovering production costs is difficult, so allocating large budgets for awards campaigning becomes a major hurdle. Hollywood studios and global distributors often spend millions of dollars on awards campaigns, which is not easily achievable for smaller Indian productions. Distribution and sustained theatrical exposure in international markets will also remain key challenges,” he added.
Film producer and trade analyst Girish Johar agreed.
“It’s definitely a door opening but will benefit only those with some might and resources. Getting every member of the jury to watch your film is a big exercise,” Johar pointed out.
Funding barrier
Industry experts noted that even with easier entry rules, Indian films still face steep financial barriers to serious Oscar contention. US marketing, Los Angeles screenings and “For Your Consideration” (FYC) campaigns can cost millions of dollars, far beyond the reach of most independent producers.
Alay Razvi, managing partner, Accord Juris, pointed out that films outside the festival route still require a seven-day theatrical run in India, adding distribution expenses amid piracy and limited screens for non-mainstream titles.
“Competing against well-funded global rivals demands voter outreach and ads that cash-strapped regional producers can't match. Without government subsidies or corporate backing, strong entries risk early elimination. While rules lower entry gates, true competitiveness hinges on bridging this funding chasm,” Razvi said.
AI rules
Experts also flagged several ancillary rule changes introduced by the Academy.
“First, the Academy has tightened its position on AI and human authorship: performance must be demonstrated by humans with their consent, and credited roles only are eligible; screenplays must be human-authored,” said Arjit Benjamin, associate partner, Prosoll Law.
“This is directly relevant in an era where Indian producers increasingly experiment with digital enhancement and AI-assisted production,” Benjamin added.
The Academy has also expanded the number of statuettes in the casting category from two to three, potentially benefiting Indian casting professionals working on international projects.
In cinematography, the branch will now work with a fixed shortlist in the preliminary round, which may influence the chances of Indian-linked productions reaching the final ballot.
“In sum, the revised rules are best understood as an enlargement of opportunity, not a guarantee of success. They improve access for Indian films that have long been under-represented, but they do not eliminate the structural burdens of certification, theatrical release, campaign finance and industry visibility,” Benjamin said.