Oscars 2025: International Feature Film Submissions
Fresh off its Venice premiere, South Korea announces Neon’s No Other Choice (trailer) as its official Oscar selection. From Oldboy (2005) director Park Chan-wook, the black comedy thriller follows a long-time unemployed man who decides the only way to get a job is to eliminate his competition.
On the last day for submissions to qualify, Mongolia has chosen Silent City Driver (trailer), the heartwarming drama from native filmmaker Janchivdorj Sengedorj (The Sales Girl) as its 98th Academy Awards selection. Chronicling the life of a man freshly out of prison after over a decade, the film follows the colorful characters he meets as he tries to adapt to his new life. The shortlist for International Films drops on December 16th.
Tajikistan announces Black Rabbit, White Rabbit (trailer) as their official pick for the 98th Academy Awards. Helmed by Iranian filmmaker Shahram Mokri (Venice’s Fish & Cat), the movie tells three seemingly disparate stories woven together to make up one bold and enigmatic reflection of life in Tajikistan. The Oscars will take place on March 15th.
South Africa picks The Heart is a Muscle (trailer), a multi-generational drama as their choice for the 98th Academy Awards. The feature-length debut from Cape Town filmmaker Imran Hamdulay, the film follows a man who, through his own self-reflection, learns how to become the father and husband he always wanted to be.
Hong Kong’s highest-grossing Chinese-language release, The Last Dance (trailer), is its official submission for the 98th Academy Awards International Feature Category. The family drama follows a wedding planner who pivots into the funeral business in a story about tradition and reconciliation. Hong Kong has submitted an international film every year since 1959, but has yet to win. Maybe The Last Dance will be their chance.
San Sebastian Competition title Belén (trailer) is Argentina’s official submission for the 98th Academy Awards. Based on a harrowing true story, the film follows a young woman sentenced to eight years in prison for aggravated homicide after being accused of having self-induced an abortion while not even knowing she was pregnant.
Lebanon picks A Sad and Beautiful World (clip), a romantic drama from filmmaker Cyril Aris (Karalovsky’s The Swing) as its Oscar candidate. The Beirut-set drama premiered during Venice’s parallel section, winning the audience-voted People’s Choice Award.
Slovak director Tereza Nvotová’s Father (Otec) is selected as the country’s official Academy Awards submission and is now being sold to multiple international territories. Premiering at Venice, the heartbreaking story follows a perfectly normal and successful father whose life in an instant becomes a nightmare. Sold by Intramovies (My Night), Father will be distributed in French-speaking Europe.
Italy has selected Familia (trailer), a coming-of-age melodrama, as its Oscar contender. Based on Luigi Celeste’s memoir, the film’s star, Francesco Gheghi, won the best actor award at its world premiere at Venice for his powerful portrayal of Celeste.
Australia picks climate-centered drama The Wolves Always Come at Night (trailer) as its official selection for the 98th Academy Awards. From Australian documentarian Gabrielle Brady (The Island), the Mongolian language film will also be considered for the Best Documentary Feature Category.
Singapore picks the ensemble thriller Stranger Eyes (trailer) as its candidate for the Oscars International Film category. Debuting at last year’s Venice Film Festival, the film is a co-production between Singapore, Taiwan, France, and the U.S. Stranger Eyes follows a young couple investigating the disappearance of their baby daughter, soon realizing they’re being watched.
The Lithuanian Film Centre has picked The Southern Chronicles (Pietinia Kronikas) as its candidate for the 98th Academy Awards international feature film category. The post-Cold War coming-of-age drama is helmed by popular Lithuanian director Ignas Miškinis (Low Lights).
Spain’s pick is the end-of-the-world drama Sirāt (trailer) for the 2026 Oscars. From director Oliver Laxe (Cannes title Fire Will Come), the feature follows a family in search of their lost daughter. It won 3rd place at Cannes this year and is being distributed by Neon domestically.
France selects Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident (trailer) as its official selection for the Best International Feature Film category. The Cannes Palme d’Or winner is a revenge tale following a man who believes he has found the same man who tortured him during his prison sentence. Neon acquired the film shortly after its Cannes premiere. This is a big win for the film, beating out Netflix’s Nouvelle Vague.
Denmark chose the Sundance-winning documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin (trailer) from filmmaker David Borenstein (Can’t Feel Nothing) for the Oscars. The film follows a school teacher in Russia who has pushed back against Putin’s propaganda. Denmark has frequently made the official five, so moving forward with a political documentary, while interesting, could stand out from other countries.
Iran has chosen Cause of Death: Unknown (trailer) as their selection for the 98th Academy Awards. Premiering at the 2023 Shanghai Film Festival, it follows a group of strangers traveling through Iran’s Lut Desert who are faced with an ethical dilemma. The film was notably picked over the Palme d’Or-winning film It Was Just an Accident from director Jafar Panahi, picked up by Neon.
Israel’s selection is The Sea, a moving drama that won the Best Picture and Best Screenplay at the Ophir Awards, the Israeli equivalent of the Oscars.
Colombia’s pick for the International Oscar category is A Poet (trailer) from director Simón Mesa Soto (Amparo). The jury prize winner at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section, A Poet is a dark comedy about a failed writer’s new mentorship.
Poland has picked Agnieszka Holland’s unconventional biopic Kafka (trailer) as its official Oscars selection. The non-chronological film tells the story of Czech author Franz Kafka, who became known as one of the 20th century’s most inventive writers long after he had died. Kafka just had its world premiere at TIFF.
Neon’s The Secret Agent (to no one’s surprise) is Brazil’s official submission for the Oscars International Feature Film category. The studio acquired the humorous and heartfelt drama after it premiered at Cannes, where Narcos actor Wagner Moura took home the Best Actor prize. Last year’s Walter Salles film, I’m Still Here (2024), was the first-ever Brazilian film to win the best international Oscar. The Secret Agent trailer.
Hungary has selected Orphan (clip), the third feature from László Nemes (dir: Son of Saul) as its official submission for the Oscars’ international film category. Set in Budapest in 1957, the film follows a young boy whose world is turned upside down when a man claims to be his true father.
Ukraine’s official selection is 2000 Meters to Andriivka (trailer) from the Oscar-winning director Mstyslav Chernov (20 Days in Mariupol). Using drones and on-the-ground footage, the film shows an intimate look at modern warfare following a Ukrainian platoon.
Estonia officially picked the coming-of-age dramedy Rolling Papers (Pikad Paberid, trailer) as its official Oscar selection. One of those just a day in the life type of movies, Rolling Papers follows a store clerk whose ordinary workday gets disrupted by a free-spirited wanderer, they smoke together and share their dreams.
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (clip), this past Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Grand Prix winner, is Chile’s official selection for the 98th Academy Awards. Notably, the directorial debut from filmmaker Diego Céspedes, the absurdist dramedy tackles the AIDS epidemic in the ‘80s, following a queer small family who seek out the truth behind the illness. The film will have its North American premiere at TIFF next week.
Norway picks Cannes Grand Prize winner Neon’s Sentimental Value (trailer) from director Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World) as their official entry for the Oscars.
Jordan has selected the multi-generational drama All That’s Left Of You (teaser trailer) as its entry, which revolves around a Palestinian family over the course of several decades up until the present day. Watermelon Pictures (TIFF’s The Teacher) has picked up North American rights to Cherien Dabis’ (dir. 6 eps of Only Murders in the Building) new drama.
Belgium’s selection is Young Mothers (trailer), the 13th feature from directing duo Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (Two Days, One Night). The film centers on five young women living in a temporary shelter for underage mothers and won Best Screenplay at this year’s Cannes.
Sundance film The Things You Kill (trailer) is Canada’s entry to this year’s Best International Feature Film category. Alireza Khatami (Cannes’ Terrestrial Verses) picked up a World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award for his police drama.
Sweden has picked Eagles of the Republic (clip), a political thriller from director Tarik Saleh (Venice’s Metropia). The film premiered at this year’s Cannes festival and will also play at TIFF in its Centerpiece section.
Iceland selected The Love That Remains (clip) from A White, White Day (2019), director Hylnur Pálmason. The film captures a year in the life of a family as the parents navigate separation.
Papua New Guinea has submitted its first-ever International Oscars selection with Paba Buka, a WWII film. From acclaimed Indian director Bijukumar Damodaran (Trees Under the Sun). The momentous occasion happens to coincide with the country’s 50th year of independence.
Japan picks Kokuho (trailer) as the country’s official contender for Best International Feature Film at the next Academy Awards. Set in the world of traditional Japanese theater (“kabuki”), the film follows a performer who seeks to achieve recognition as a living national treasure. Japan’s last international win at the Oscars was Drive My Car (2021).
Taiwan’s official Oscars selection is Left-Handed Girl (teaser), from producer Shih-Ching Tsou, who is directing her first feature after a number of collaborations with Sean Baker (Anora), who edited the film. The family drama had global rights acquired by Netflix after its Cannes premiere and will drop on the streamer on Nov. 28th after a theatrical run earlier in the month.
Just ahead of its world premiere at Venice, Tunisia has picked The Voice of Hind Rajab as its official Oscar selection. The film tells the harrowing true story of the killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian girl after trying to flee Gaza with her family. Mad Distribution (Inshallah a Boy) has Arab theatrical rights with major actors like Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix, also recently boarding as executive producers.
Thailand has announced Cannes’ film A Useful Ghost (Pee Chai Dai Ka, teaser) as its official submission for the International Feature Film Category for the 98th Academy Awards. The satirical ghost story is described as a romantic comedy, a deliberate departure from Thailand’s acclaimed horror scene.
Palestine’s official entry is Palestine 36, a period drama following the Palestinian revolt against British colonial rule from director Annemarie Jacir (Cannes’ Salt of This Sea).
Ireland’s official entry is Sanatorium, a Ukrainian-language doc and debut feature from Irish native director Gar O’Rourke. The film takes a look at Kuyalnik Sanatorium, a building in 70s Ukraine that contained mud treatments said to cure infertility and physical disabilities.
Chicago-based Music Box Films has acquired North American distribution for the timely medical drama Late Shift (Heldin), which has been named Switzerland’s official entry for the Oscars International Feature Film category. The film, which premiered at Berlin earlier this year, comes from Swiss filmmaker Petra Volpe. A box office hit across Europe, Music Box will release the film in the US most likely sometime in the fall.
The Czech Republic has officially announced Klára Tasovská’s I’m Not Everything I Want to Be as its Oscar entry for the International Feature Film category. The historical drama doc premiered last year at Berlin, winning the coveted Czech lion award.
Cannes title Magellan (clip) has been selected as the Philippines' official Oscar entry for the International Feature Film category. Directed by the multi-hyphenated Filipino filmmaker Laz Diaz (From What Is Before), it tells the 16th-century story of the legendary navigator (played by Mozart in the Jungle’s Gael García Bernal) in his final months before death.
The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15th, 2026.