The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) is hailing new rules announced on Friday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pertaining to the international feature category as a “major victory.” Going forward the Oscars are allowing submissions from individual directors, not just entries designated by selection committees in different countries. The new rules that will go into effect for the 99th Oscars set for 2027 state that there are now two ways to submit a film for consideration. In addition to a film being submitted as an official selection by a country or region via the Academy-approved selection committees in each country, a non-English language film can now be submitted by winning a qualifying award at selected major international film festivals.…