Oscar Regulations

Screenings are the number one part of Oscar regulations. The Academy encourages the screening of eligible films in a theatrical setting for its members. However, nothing may be given to Academy members at such screenings except for a simple listing of the film's credits.

Such screenings must not be accompanied by receptions, buffets or other refreshments, nor should such screenings be accompanied by any kind of live participation by anyone associated with the film.

Screenings containing such additional components that are intended for the general public or other non-Academy audience may not be promoted to Academy members.

Companies that sponsor screenings containing such additional components that are held in a commercial theater and are open to the ticket-buying public may not permit Academy members to gain free admittance using their Academy membership cards.

After the nominations are announced, screenings intended for Academy members may not be "hosted" by any Academy member who is not directly connected with the film or the studio.

2. Passes to Commercial Theaters

Companies are permitted to distribute passes or coupons that allow Academy members to gain free entry to screenings in commercial theaters. These coupons may be for specific titles or for admission on a more general basis. These coupons must be simple in design and production. A film's title and logo may be printed, along with studio name and logo. No photographs or other design elements specific to the film may be included. No additional text specific to the film may be included.

3. Screening Schedules

Screening schedules or notices of upcoming screenings (whether they be private, invitation-only screenings or those scheduled as part of a regular theatrical release) may be mailed to members, but only in letter format (8½" x 11" paper) or on postcards (maximum size 4" x 6"). In addition to screening information, these mailings may include a film's title treatment; they may not include photographs, glossy paper or card stock, key art or other graphics. Mailings that extol the merits of a film, an achievement or an individual are not permitted. Mailings containing quotes from reviews about a film or achievement are not permitted, nor should they refer to other honors or awards, past or present, that have been received by either the film or those involved in the production or distribution of the film. Except as permitted in Regulation #5, mailings may not mention any Web site that promotes any eligible film.

In addition to information about scheduled screenings and title treatments, these mailings may incorporate a basic "for your consideration" listing of the artists who worked on the film. They may include a brief, unembellished synopsis of the film. Once the year's crop of Oscar® nominees is announced, subsequent letters and screening schedules may refer to any current Academy nominations received by a film.

Mailings intended to verify a member's address and announcing the shipment of screeners are permitted and are not required to contain screening schedules. Letters accompanying the delivery of screeners, CDs and scripts are permitted and are not required to contain screening schedules. In all other ways, however, they must adhere to the above regulations regarding mailings.

4. E-mail

E-mail that is sent to Academy members must adhere to the same regulations concerning content and appearance as direct mailings that are delivered by the post office or via other delivery methods. It may not extol the merits of a film, an achievement or an individual. It may not contain quotes from reviews about a film or an achievement, nor should it refer to other honors or awards, past or present, that have been received by either the film or those involved in the production or distribution of the film. Except as permitted in Regulation #5, e-mail to members may not include mention of, or links to, any Web site that promotes any eligible film.

5. Websites

References or links to a Web site that promotes an eligible film are permitted in mailings, e-mail and other communications to members only under certain conditions. If such a Web site does not contain photographic, audio,video, graphical and other multimedia elements normally found in Web sites, then links or other references to the site in communications to members are permitted. In other words, referring to a Web site is permissible only if the Web site contains the same type of basic screening information and synopses that would otherwise be allowed in direct mailings, presented in a similar format.

All Web sites, whether of the allowable type described above or of the more conventional multimedia variety, must adhere to the Academy's other rules concerning eligibility and use of the Academy's intellectual properties. Additional information concerning those rules can be obtained by contacting the Academy or ccessing the Academy's Web site at www.oscars.org/legal/preamble.html.

6. Quote Ads

Any form of advertising that includes quotes or comments by Academy members is prohibited.

7. Screeners

Videocassette or DVD screeners of eligible films may be sent to Academy members. A member may not be sent both a DVD and a videocassette of the same motion picture. A screener sent to a member may not include any additional print or moving image material, such as information about the making of the movie. DVDs may contain simple menus that provide viewers with the ability to select different starting points (chapter stops) as well as audio format options.

8. Packaging of Screeners

The packaging of videocassette or DVD screeners should be limited to simple sleeves or boxes. Outer packaging on boxes housing multiple screeners must likewise be simple in design. A film's logo and title may appear on the packaging. Packaging for individual screeners may carry on it a list of "for your consideration" credits; no tag lines, advertising or promotional copy are permitted. Whether housing single or multiple screeners, elaborate or promotional packaging is not permitted.

A box housing multiple screeners may include simple typographic mention of the videocassettes or DVDs inside, but the graphics may not refer to any specific titles. Generic studio logos or studio photos are permitted.

An empty videocassette or DVD box may not be sent to members as a "placeholder" or reminder that the actual videocassette or DVD will be sent at some future date.

Whether or not a videocassette or DVD has already been placed in general distribution to the home video market at the time of its mailing to Academy members, the packaging must adhere to the regulations above. Use of the same packaging as is used in the commercial release is no longer permitted.

9. Music

Recordings of eligible songs and scores may be sent only to Music Branch members prior to the announcement of nominations. Sheet music of songs may also be sent at this time. After nominations are announced, recordings of nominated material may be sent to all members (sheet music may not be sent during the post-nomination period). The recordings must be identical to renditions used in the film, and must contain only the eligible music or songs. Soundtracks containing licensed or other ineligible material may not be sent. Video excerpts are not permitted.

10. Music Packaging

The packaging of recordings and sheet music must adhere to the same restrictions as those described in Regulation #8 for screener packaging. Packaging used in commercial/consumer distribution may not be used in mailings to Academy members. Neither the packaging nor the item itself, such as the cover of the sheet music, may refer to other awards or chievements.

11. Inserts

Letters accompanying the delivery of screeners, CDs and scripts are permitted and are not required to contain screening schedules. In all other ways, however, they must adhere to the above regulations regarding mailings.

Information about upcoming screenings also may be inserted into the packaging of screeners, CDs and scripts. The size of these schedules may be tailored to fit the packaging; however, slightly heavier paper or card stock may not be used. Graphics should be limited to title treatments. All other relevant restrictions concerning screening schedules described in Regulation #3 also apply.

12. Screenplays

Screenplays may be sent only to members of the Writers Branch prior to the announcement of nominations. Screenplays nominated in either of the two writing categories may be sent to all members after the nominations are announced. Screenplays sent should accurately reflect the film as released and should be in standard studio form, i.e., plain paper or card stock covers with only title and writer information (no graphics), containing no review excerpts or other promotional materials. The Academy recommends that screenplays be duplicated in a double-sided format. Screenplays reproduced in smaller formats (8½" x 5½", for example) are also permitted.

13. Third Party Distribution

Film companies are prohibited from doing indirectly or through a third party anything that these regulations prohibit them from doing directly. They are prohibited from using subscriber-based publications to distribute promotional materials to an Academy member unless the member is a subscriber to those publications. The Academy defines "subscriber" as a member who has taken the intentional step of requesting that a publication be sent to him or her on a regular basis. The member does not necessarily have to pay for that subscription. Any Academy member who has not made such a request, however, will not be considered a subscriber, and any company that uses a publication to send the promotional materials anticipated by this regulation to such a member will be in violation of the regulation.

14. Telephone Lobbying

Any organized effort to contact Academy members by telephone on behalf of a film or achievement is expressly forbidden, even if such contact is in the guise of checking to make sure a screener was received. Telephone calls to verify a member's address are permitted, as long as no eligible films are discussed.

15. Events

Receptions, lunches, dinners or other events to which Academy members are invited that are specifically designed to promote a film or achievement for Academy Awards consideration are expressly forbidden.

16. References to Other Nominees

Ads, mailings, Web sites or any other forms of campaign communication that attempt to promote a particular film or achievement by casting a negative or derogatory light on a competing film or achievement are not permitted. In particular, any campaign tactic that singles out "the competition" by name or title is expressly forbidden.

17. The "Academy" Office

Some film companies still refer to their "campaign" offices, in print and on the telephone, as "the Academy Office." That's confusing to some Academy members and incorrect. If a name is needed for those special tactical units designed to campaign for the various organizational awards that are presented during the first quarter of the year, the Academy suggests the more accurate "Awards Office."

The Board of Governors of the Academy reserves the right to review any activity that may or may not be described in these regulations and to assess any penalties it considers appropriate, as allowed under these regulations and the bylaws of the Academy- http://www.oscars.org/