Introduction to the 2026 Oscars
The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. As part of the awards, the category for the best international feature film is now open for submissions. An international feature film is defined as a film produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialog track, and it can include animated and documentary features.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for submission, films must have been released in their respective countries between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. The deadline for submissions to the academy is October 1, 2025. A selection list of 15 finalists will be announced on December 16, 2025, followed by the announcement of the final five nominees on January 22, 2026.
Previous Awards
The 2024 Awards saw 89 submissions, with the five nominated films coming from Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, and the winner, Brazil. The nominated films included "The Girl with the Needle" from Denmark, "Emilia Perez" from France, "The Seeds of the Holy Figs" from Germany, "Flow" from Latvia, and the winner "I’m Still Here" from Brazil.
Latest Submissions
Turkey’s Submission
Turkey has submitted the film "One of the Days When Hemme Dies" directed by Murat Fratoglu. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2024, where it won the Special Jury Prize. The film tells the story of a tomato harvester who tries to pay off an impending debt. Turkey has submitted films to the Oscars over 30 times and was previously nominated in 2008 for "Three Monkeys" directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The international sales for the film are being handled by Luxbox.
What’s Next
As the submission process continues, more countries are expected to submit their films for consideration. The academy will then narrow down the submissions to the final five nominees, who will be announced on January 22, 2026. The winner of the best international feature film will be announced at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026.
