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Today May 28 post was opened but will remain unpublished for a while, maybe until July 2025.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

Armenia: Իմ հայկական ուրվականները Mes fantômes arméniens (My Armenian Phantoms), Tamara Stepanyan #Berlinale2025 Forum Special (documentary)
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
Azerbaijan: Tağıyev: Neft (Taghiyev: Oil), Zaur Gasimli

Belgium: Jeunes mères (The Young Mother's Home), Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne #Cannes2025 Competition winner of Best Screenplay, Prix Cinéma Positif, Prix Eco Prod, and Ecumenical Jury awards 
Bulgaria: Стадото Tarika (The Herd), Milko Lazarov

Cambodia: អ្នកស្នងអគារ Tenement, Sokyou Chea and Inrasothythep Neth #IFFR2024 Big Screen Award Competition
Canada: Öldürdüğün Şeyler (The Things You Kill), Alireza Khatami #Sundance2025 World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award winner
Chile: La Misteriosa Mirada del Flamenco (The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo),  Diego Céspedes #Cannes2025 Un Certain Regard Prize winner #QueerPalm Competition
Costa Rica: El Monaguillo, el Cura y el Jardinero, Juan Manuel Fernández Escoto (documentary)
Croatia: Fiume o morte!, Igor Bezinović #IFFR2025 Tiger Competition Tiger Award and FIPRESCI Prize winner (documentary)
Czech Republic: Jeste nejsem, kým chci být (I'm Not Everything I Want to Be), Klára Tasovská  #Berlinale2024 Panorama (documentary)

Dominican Republic: Pepe, Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias #Berlinale2024 Competition Silver Bear for Best Director winner

Ecuador: Chuzalongo, Diego Ortuño
Egypt: عيد ميلاد سعيد Happy Birthday, Sarah Goher #Tribeca2025 Nora Ephron Award winner, Best Screenplay and Best International Narrative Feature winner
Estonia: Pikad paberid (Rolling Papers), Meel Paliale

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

Iceland: Ástin sem eftir er (The Love That Remains), Hlynur Pálmason #Cannes2025 Premiere
Indonesia: Sore: Istri dari Masa Depan (Sore: Wife from the Future), Yandy Laurens
Iraq: مملكة القصب Mamlaket Al-Qasab (The President's Cake), Hasan Hadi #Quinzaine2025 #Cannes2025 Camera d'Or winner
Ireland: Sanatorium, Gar O'Rouke (documentary)

Japan: 国宝 Kokuhô (Kokuho), Lee Sang-il #Quinzaine2025 #Cannes2025 
Jordan: اللي باقي منك Ally baqi mink (All That's Left of You), Cherien Dabis #Sundance2025 Premieres

Latvia: Dieva suns (Dog of God), Lauris Ābele and Raitis Ābele (animation) #Tribeca2025 Escape from Tribeca

Morocco: Calle Málaga, Maryam Touzani #Venezia82 Sportlight #BiennaleCinema2025 Armani Beauty Audience Award winner

Netherlands: Rietland (Reedland), Sven Bresser #SdlC2025 Competition #Cannes2025
North Macedonia: Силјан Siljan (The Tale of Silyan), Tamara Kotevska #Venezia82 Out of Competition #BiennaleCinema2025 (documentary) Cinema and Arts Best Film Award winner
Norway: Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), Joachim Trier #Cannes2025 Competition Grand Prize winner

Palestine: فلسطين ٣٦ Palestine 36, Annemarie Jacir
Papua New Guinea: പപ്പ ബുക്ക Papa Buka, Bijukumar Damodaran
Peru: Kinra (Motherland), Marco Panatonic
Philippines: Magalhães (Magellan), Lav Diaz #Cannes2025 Premiere

Romania: Jaful secolului (Traffic), Teodora Ana Mihai #IFFR2025 RTM

Slovenia: Kaj ti je deklica (Little Trouble Girls), Urška Djukić #Berlinale2025 Perspectives FIPRESCI Award winner
South Korea: 어쩔수가없다 Eojjeolsugaeopda (No Other Choice), Chan-wook Park #Venezia82 Competition
Sweden: Eagles of the Republic, Tarik Saleh #Cannes2025 Competition
Switzerland: Heldin (Late Shift), Petra Volpe, Switzerland and Germany #Berlinale2025 Special Gala

Taiwan: 左撇子女孩 Left-Handed Girl, Shih-Ching Tsou #SdlC25 Competition #Cannes2025 Gan Foundation Award for Distribution and Grand Rail d'Or winner
Thailand: ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ Pee Chai Dai Ka (A Useful Ghost), Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke winner of #SdlC2025 Grand Prix #Cannes2025
Tunisia: صوت هند رجب The Voice of Hind Rajab, Kaouther Ben Hania #Venezia82 Competition Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize winner and eight collateral awards
Turkey: Hemme'nin Öldüğü Günlerden Biri (One of Those Days When Hemme Dies), Murat Fıratoğlu, Turkey #BiennaleCinema2024 Orizzonti Special Jury Prize winner

Ukraine: 2000 метрів до Андріївки 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Mstyslav Chernov (documentary) #Sundance2025 World Cinema Documentary Directing Award winner
Uruguay: Agárrame Fuerte (Don't You Let Me Go), Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge #Tribeca2024 Nora Ephron Award winner

To check available info and trailers go to MOC
To check available posters go to Pinterest
To check MovieOn facebook go here
To check MovieOn Bluesky go here

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.

Bangladesh: Submissions deadline September 16
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

Colombia: Submissions deadline August 31. 12 films were registered to be considered. Voting from September 12 to 15, selection after September 15.

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.

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

India: Submissions open from August 15 to September 19. Selection announcement on September 28
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. Awards on September 16.
Italy: Submissions deadline Friday, September 12 at 1pm

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

Lebanon: Submissions deadline September 22
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

Namibia: Submissions deadline September 22
Nigeria: Submissions from August 13 to September 12

Pakistan: Submission deadline August 15
Panama: Submission deadline September 1st
Paraguay: Submissions from July 18 to August 11
Poland: Submission deadline August 24. Selection on September15.
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.

Rwanda: First ever Oscar Selection Committee. Submission deadline September 18.

Saudi Arabia: Called for submissions for the first time ever. No dates.
Senegal: Submissions deadline September 10
Serbia: Submissions deadline August 26. 2 films in consideration. Selection on September 24.
Singapore: Submission deadline July 24
Slovakia: Selection committee members deadline August 15
South Africa: Submissions deadline August 1st
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. Shortlist with 3 films on September 3. Romeria by Carla Simon #Cannes2025, Sirat by Oliver Laxe #Cannes2025, Sorda by Eva Libertad #Berlinale2025 Panorama. Selection on September 17.
Sudan: Submissions deadline September 15

Uganda: Jury members nominations deadline July 25
UK: Submissions deadline July 31

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

Zimbawe: Submissions deadline September 12