98th Academy Awards International Feature Film Submissions - In Progress

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Today May 28 post was opened but will remain unpublished for a while, maybe until July 2025.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

News

Azerbaijan: Submissions deadline July 15

Canada: Submissions deadline July 11. Announcement of selection end of August. 
Costa Rica: Submissions deadline August 15
Croatia: Submissions deadline July 3
Czech Republic: Submissions deadline May 31

Denmark: Submissions deadline June 27 Danish Selection committee will review films from August 4 to 29 

Germany: Submissions deadline July 21, 2025. German Selection committee will review film submission on August 20 and 21 in Munich

Ireland: Information about titles which may be eligible by COB on June 30th, 2025
Italy: Submissions deadline Friday, September 12 at 1pm

Luxembourg: Submissions deadline June 18

Senegal: Submissions deadline September 10
Sweden: Submissions deadline June 25
Switzerland: Submissions deadline June 26

Uruguay: Submissions deadline August 2