98th Academy Awards International Feature Film Submissions

Update August 11: Finally the second country to announce is the Czech Republic and can say their selection is surprising; but, definitively the new selection process controversy generated voters discontent. Sigh.
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Update July 16: It is surprising to find two countries publishing their call to submit films to Oscars 2026, first was Papua New Guinea and second, Madagascar. It was surprising as both are not countries with known cinema so had to make sure that announcements were legit. The first check was to find if both film sites existed and yes, they do; then, if in their sites there was an announcement and yes, there is. Therefore decided to include them and with utmost interest will be looking forward to find if they submit a film for AMPAS consideration.

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Update July 15: The first country to announce their submission is Turkey!!!

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As of today, June 2, 2025 decided to publish the post even when there are only a few countries that have announced their call for submissions to #Oscars2026 International Feature Film category. Post will be updated constantly until October 1st, AMPAS submission deadline for this category.

Today May 28 post was opened but will remain unpublished for a while, maybe until July 2025. Still already there are news published about calling submissions to local film academies.

On April 21, 2025 AMPAS published a press release indicating several changes to the rules. These are some of the most interesting changes.

"In a procedural change, Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars®. All designated nominees will also be included on the final ballot."

I understand that if is the "final round" then they must have watch all the 10/15 shortlisted films, as is almost impossible in the International Feature Film category to watch ALL submissions and much less probable the largest category of all that always has been Best Picture with 300+ eligible films. Nevertheless will be checking for more info regrading this change and will post news if applicable.

As the world is full of serious conflicts and now there are several well-known film directors and creative crew living in other than their own country, AMPAS changed the eligibility requirement regarding creative control.

"In the International Feature Film category, the eligibility requirement regarding creative control has been updated to be inclusive of filmmakers with refugee or asylum status. The submitting country must confirm that creative control of the film was largely in the hands of citizens, residents, or individuals with refugee or asylum status in the submitting country."

Most interesting for me is to discover that infamous rule 13 that used to list all International Feature Film category rules do not longer identify them; now is Rule Sixteen (16). If you feel like reading the rules go official site here, is a PDF file.

The following are key dates for the #Oscars2026 season.
Submission deadline for International Feature Film: Monday, October 1, 2025
Oscars Shortlists Announcement: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Oscars Nominations Announcement: Tuesday, January 22, 2026
98th Academy Award Ceremony: Sunday, March 15, 2026

The 2026 List

Austria: Pfau - Bin ich echt? (Peacock), Bernhard Wenger #SdlC2024 Competition #CinemaBiennale2024 winner of Bisato d'Oro for Best Director and Fondazione Fai Persona Lavoro Ambiente Award

Bulgaria: Стадото Tarika (The Herd), Milko Lazarov

Czech Republic: Jeste nejsem, kým chci být (I'm Not Everything I Want to Be), Klára Tasovská  #Berlinale2024 Panorama (documentary)

Germany: In die Sonne schauen (Sound of Falling), Mascha Schilinski #Cannes2025 Competition winner of Jury Prize

Ireland: Sanatorium, Gar O'Rouke (documentary)

Palestine: فلسطين ٣٦ Palestine 36, Annemarie Jacir

Switzerland: Heldin (Late Shift), Petra Volpe, Switzerland and Germany #Berlinale2025 Special Gala

Thailand: ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ Pee Chai Dai Ka (A Useful Ghost), Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke winner of #SdlC2025 Grand Prix #Cannes2025
Turkey: Hemme'nin Öldüğü Günlerden Biri (One of Those Days When Hemme Dies), Murat Fıratoğlu, Turkey #BiennaleCinema2024 Orizzonti Special Jury Prize winner

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News

Albania: Submissions deadline August 1
Algeria: Submissions from August 11 to September 4
Argentina: Submissions deadline September 14, shortlist September 15, selection on September 24.
Armenia: Submissions from July 10 to August 15. 3 films registered. Selection on September 4. 
Azerbaijan: Submissions deadline July 15

Bangladesh: Submissions deadline September 21
Belgium: Submissions deadline July 4. First round Flemish jury and French jury select 2 films each to generate a 4 films shortlist. Second round National jury selects 1 film.
Bhutan: Submissions from August 1st to September 25
Bolivia: Submissions deadline September 6
Bosnia Herzegovina: Submissions deadline August 10
Brazil: Submissions deadline August 10. 16 films registered. Shortlist of 6 films on September 8. Selection on September 15

Cambodia: Submissions deadline July 31
Canada: Submissions deadline July 11. Selection end of August. 
Chile: Submissions deadline August 5,  6 films registered: La Ola by Sebastián Lelio #Cannes2025 Premiere; Patio de Chacales by Diego Figueroa 2024 Tallin Black Nights Best Director winner; La Misteriosa Mirada del Flamenco by Diego Céspedes #Cannes2025 Un Certain Regard Prize winner; Denominación de Origen by Tomás Alzamora ; Los Hiperbóreos by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña; and, Oro Amargo by Juan Francisco Olea. Voting until August 25.  
Colombia: Submissions deadline August 31. Voting from September 12 to 15, selection after September 15.
Costa Rica: Submissions deadline August 18 
Croatia: Submissions deadline July 3

Denmark: Submissions deadline June 27. 8 films were submitted. Danish Selection committee will review films from August 4 to 29. End of August 3 films shortlist: The Last Viking by Anders Thomas Jensen, Mr Nobody Against Putin by David Borensteins, and Beginnings by Jeanette Nordahl. Selection on September 17.

Ecuador: Jury selection deadline July 19
Estonia: Submissions deadline August 1

France: Submissions deadline July 15.  Pre-selection meeting week of September 8, 3 films will be announced.  Selection week of September 15. 

Georgia: Submissions from August 15 to September 1. Selection no later than September 16.
Greece: Submissions from July 16 to July 28
Guatemala: call for selection committee deadline July 27. Submissions from August 14 to 31.

Hungary: Submissions deadline August 25

Iceland: Submissions deadline August 5
India: Submissions open from August 15 to September 19. Selection announcement on September 28
Indonesia: Film registration from August 1 to August 30; selection process from September 1 to September 10. Selection announcement on September 11
Israel: 5 nominees for Best Picture in Ophir Awards: Dead Language by Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis, Nandauri by Eti Tsicko, Oxygen Netalie Braun, The Sea by Shai Carmeli-Pollak, and Yes! by Nadav Lapid. Winner is submission.
Italy: Submissions deadline Friday, September 12 at 1pm

Japan: Submissions deadline July 24. Additional materials on August 1st 
Jordan: Submissions deadline July 28

Kenya: Submissions deadline September 11
Kosovo: Submissions deadline July 21, 2025
Kyrgyzstan: Submissions from August 11 to September 11

Latvia: Submissions deadline July 25
Lebanon: Submissions from July 17 to September 2
Lithuania: Submissions deadline July 31
Luxembourg: Submissions deadline June 18

Madagascar: First ever selection committee. Submissions deadline August 15
Malaysia: Submissions deadline September 8. Selection end of September. 
Malta: Submissions deadline September 1st
Mexico: Submissions deadline August 15
Montenegro: Submissions deadline September 4
Morocco: Submissions deadline July 31

Netherlands: Submissions deadline July 21.  8 films registered. Selection early September. 
Nigeria: Submissions from August 13 to September 12
Norway: Shortlist with 3 films: Affeksjonsverdi by Joachim Trier, Drømmer by Dag Johan Haugerud, and Stoltenberg - Facing War by Tommy Gulliksen (documentary). Selection on Tuesday, August 26 at 10am.

Pakistan: Submission deadline August 15
Panama: Submission deadline September 1st
Papua New Guinea: First ever Selection Committee. Submission deadline July 25
Paraguay: Submissions from July 18 to August 11
Peru: Submission deadline August 5. There are 6 films being considered: Uchpa by Antonio Rodriguez Romani,  Kinra by Marco Panatonic, Zafari by Mariana Rondon, Cuadrilatero by Daniel Rodiguez Risco, Mistura by Ricardo de Montreuil, and Nanito by Guillermo Fernandez Cano. 
Philippines: 7 films in consideration. Selection on September 11 
Poland: Submission deadline August 24
Portugal: Submissions from June 12 to August 20. Shortlist with 5 films: Banzo by Margarita Cardoso, Hanami by Desine Fernandes, Os Papeis do ingles by Sergio Graciano, Sobreviventes by Jose Barahona, and Sohnar con Leoes by Paolo Marinou-Blanco.

Romania: Call to form Selection Committee, deadline July 15.  Submission deadline August 15. Selection on September 10
Rwanda: First ever Oscar Selection Committee. Submission deadline August 31.

Saudi Arabia: Called for submissions for the first time ever. No dates.
Senegal: Submissions deadline September 10
Serbia: Submissions deadline August 26
Singapore: Submission deadline July 24
Slovakia: Selection committee members deadline August 15
South Africa: Submissions deadline August 1st
South Korea: Submissions deadline July 22. 19 films were submitted.
Spain: Academy opened site to watch movies to be considered for several awards: Oscars, Goya, Ariel, etc. After watching academics will vote to select Goya nominations, Oscars shortlist of 3, and more.
Sudan: Submissions deadline September 15
Sweden:  Submissions deadline June 25. Screener link by August 1st. Shortlist with 3 films: Eagles of the Republic by Tarik Saleh #Cannes2025 Competition; The Dance Club by Lisa Langseth and Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 by Goran Hugo Olsson (documentary) #BiennaleCinema2024 Out of Competition. Selection on August 27.

Tunisia: Submissions deadline August 15

Uganda: Jury members nominations deadline July 25
Ukraine: Submissions from July 16 to August 3. 8 films were submitted, selection on August 28. 
UK: Submissions deadline July 31
Uruguay: Submissions deadline August 22 

Venezuela: July 7 to 26 form selection committee. Submissions deadline September 10. Selection between September 11 to 15.
Vietnam: Submissions deadline September 20th