The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has opened entries for the best international feature race for the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled for 14 March 2027 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The move sets a timetable and an altered eligibility pathway that may change how films from outside the United States reach the shortlist and final nominations.
Key dates and new eligibility route
Feature films produced outside the US with a predominantly non-English dialogue track remain eligible if they meet the theatrical-release window. For the 2027 contest, eligible films must have been released in their country between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026, with the Academy’s submission deadline set at 30 September 2026.
- Shortlist announcement: 15 December 2026
- Final five nominees announced: 21 January 2027
A significant procedural change has been introduced: films not in the English language that win qualifying awards at certain international festivals are now also eligible for consideration. The festivals named by the Academy are Berlin, Busan, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and Venice. This supplements the traditional route based on national theatrical release.
What changed and why it matters
Previously, eligibility hinged principally on a film’s commercial release in its home territory during the specified window. The addition of festival-award qualification effectively recognises the growing prominence of festival circuits in identifying international films with awards potential. For filmmakers, sales agents and distributors, that offers an alternative route into the Oscar process, particularly for titles that circulate widely at festivals but face constraints securing theatrical runs in their countries within the deadline.
Industry observers point out that the change could advantage films that perform strongly on the festival circuit but have limited domestic distribution, enabling them to compete alongside traditionally released features.
Recent precedent and entries to watch
The 2026 awards cycle featured 86 eligible submissions, from which the five final nominees were:
| Country | Film |
|---|---|
| Norway | Sentimental Value |
| France | It Was Just An Accident |
| Brazil | The Secret Agent |
| Spain | Sirat |
| Tunisia | The Voice Of Hind Rajab |
Among early 2027 contenders already announced by countries is Belgium’s submission, Coward, directed by Lukas Dhont. The film, which had its world premiere in competition at Cannes, follows the experiences of new soldier Pierre at the 1916 First World War front and features Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, who shared the festival’s best actor honour.
Other national selections that have been publicised include Canada’s Nina Roza by Geneviève Dulude-De Celles and Germany’s Everytime by Sandra Wollner, signalling a wide and diverse field forming early in the campaign.
Implications for South African film industry
The revised rules are immediately relevant to South African filmmakers, producers and festival programmers. For titles that attract awards at the named festivals — or secure qualifying wins elsewhere recognised by the Academy — the new pathway offers a potential backdoor into the Oscar cycle despite uneven domestic release possibilities. South African films that perform strongly at festivals such as Busan or Cannes may therefore find an expanded route to consideration.
With the shortlist due on 15 December 2026 and the nominees announced a month later, producers and distributors will need to align festival strategies and release plans to ensure eligibility and visibility in a crowded international field.
Industry stakeholders have until 30 September 2026 to submit films under the theatrical-release requirement, while festival-award qualifiers will be evaluated under the Academy’s expanded criteria.
