The race to the 2026 Oscars is officially on! Countries worldwide are unveiling their contenders for Best International Feature Film, showcasing diverse cinematic masterpieces. From heartwarming dramas to gripping thrillers, which nation will take home the gold? Get ready to root for your favorites!
The prestigious race for the 98th Academy Awards has officially commenced, with countries worldwide eagerly submitting their cinematic masterpieces for consideration in the highly coveted Best International Feature Film category. As anticipation builds for the 2026 Oscars ceremony on March 15, 2026, where the year’s finest global films will be crowned, the initial wave of diverse entries highlights the rich tapestry of storytelling across continents. This early phase of film submissions sets the stage for what promises to be an enthralling competition, celebrating artistic excellence on an international scale.
To qualify for this esteemed Academy Award, films must meet stringent criteria. Productions are required to originate outside the United States, with a dialogue track composed of at least 51% non-English language. Furthermore, each submitted film must have enjoyed a theatrical exhibition run of at least seven consecutive days in its submitting country between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. The final deadline for these crucial submissions is October 1, after which the selection committee will begin the arduous task of sifting through the numerous global cinema entries.
Among the early hopefuls is Belgium, which has put forward “Toro,” the 13th feature film from the acclaimed fraternal twins Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. This poignant drama explores the lives of five women residing in a temporary shelter for underage mothers, embodying the Dardenne brothers’ signature realist style. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has chosen Klára Tasovská’s captivating documentary, a film crafted from the private diaries and extensive photographs of artist Libuše Jarcovjáková, offering a unique glimpse into the 1980s underground movement in Czechoslovakia and an escape to West Berlin.
Canada has also unveiled its entry, Alireza Khatami’s “The Old Man and the Sea,” a film that garnered the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award at this year’s Sundance Festival. This compelling narrative follows university professor Ali, haunted by his mother’s suspicious death, as he embarks on a chilling quest for vengeance. From the Nordic regions, Iceland has nominated Hlynur Pálmason’s latest work, capturing a year in the life of a family navigating the complexities of separation, portraying the bittersweet essence of faded love amidst changing seasons, further enriching the Oscars 2026 lineup.
Germany enters the race with a powerful drama centered on four women, separated by decades but united by shared trauma, as they uncover dark truths hidden within an isolated farmstead in the Altmark region. This submission promises a profound exploration of human resilience and the uncovering of buried histories. Ireland, on the other hand, has opted for a unique Ukrainian-language film set in the Kuyalnik Sanatorium near Odesa, where a small group finds solace and hope in mysterious black mud, believed to cure various ailments, showcasing an extraordinary example of international feature film storytelling.
East Asia’s contributions are equally compelling, with Japan selecting Lee Sang-il’s “National Treasure,” a film steeped in the intricate world of traditional Japanese kabuki theater. It chronicles the journey of a kabuki performer from his yakuza family origins to his dedication to the stage, aspiring to be recognized as a living national treasure. This cultural epic, featuring a star-studded cast, premiered to acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival, adding a layer of artistic depth to the film submissions from the region.
Jordan’s submission, “The Teacher,” is a poignant drama tracing a multi-generational Palestinian family from 1948 to the present day, drawing inspiration from the director’s personal heritage. Norway has put forward Joachim Trier’s “Armand,” which notably won the Cannes Grand Prix in 2025. This film, starring Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning, explores complex family dynamics as two sisters reunite with their estranged father, a once-famous director, highlighting the breadth of global cinema narratives aiming for Academy Awards recognition.
Sweden’s choice is Tarik Saleh’s Cannes competition entry, a political thriller set within Egypt’s glamorous film industry, where a rising star confronts a dangerous undercurrent of deceit and propaganda. Switzerland has also selected a drama, focusing on nurse Floria, who maintains her humanity and warmth while working an understaffed shift in a surgical ward. Taiwan’s candidate, Shih-Ching Tsou’s feature debut, follows a single mother and her two daughters establishing a night market stall in Taipei, while Thailand’s “Welfare for All” offers a unique ghost story about a widower and his vacuum cleaner-possessed wife.
The Oscars 2026 race continues with Tunisia’s Kaouther Ben Hania’s Gaza-set drama, reconstructing harrowing real-life events, and Turkey’s Murat Firagtoğlu’s “A Peaceful Rebellion,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and follows a man’s desperate search for a radical solution to an impending debt. These diverse narratives, from powerful documentaries to poignant dramas and thrilling political sagas, underscore the vibrant creativity in international feature film production. The suspense will build until December 16, when the shortlist of 15 films is revealed, followed by the official nominations announcement on January 22, 2026, leading up to the grand ceremony.
