The international feature film campaign for the Academy Awards is in its final stages, with numerous countries announcing their official submissions. The deadline for entries is October 1, with the shortlist of 15 films to be revealed on December 15. Academy members across all branches who commit to watching all 15 shortlisted films will vote on their preferences, with final nominations announced on January 21.
A significant procedural change allows films winning top prizes at six major festivals—Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, Busan and Toronto—to enter the international feature race without requiring backing from their nation’s selection committee. Among notable entries are Romania’s “Fjord,” winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, Germany’s “Everytime,” which won the Un Certain Regard prize, and France’s “Minotaur,” recipient of the Grand Prix at the festival.
Bangladesh selected “Roid,” directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, as its submission. The film premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and was selected for the Seattle International Film Festival. Set in rural Bangladesh during a pre-digital period, it follows an impoverished tenant farmer navigating life with his volatile wife. The film marks Sumon’s second feature following his 2022 film “Hawa,” which became the first Bangladeshi film to appear on U.S. box office charts after its Academy Award submission.
Italy designated Paolo Strippoli’s “The Spiral” as its candidate. The thriller, which premiered in competition at Venice Film Festival, centers on a supernatural encounter between a mother and a mysterious figure offering a Faustian bargain. Hong Kong selected “Sons of the Neon Night,” directed by Juno Mak and featuring veteran actors including Takeshi Kaneshiro in his return to screen after an eight-year hiatus. The film, with an estimated $50 million budget, premiered at Cannes in May 2025 and won eight awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Jordan’s submission is “Sink,” the debut feature from director Zain Duraie, which premiered at TIFF in 2025. The psychological thriller explores themes of family dynamics and mental health, with production support from the Royal Film Commission and regional film institutions.
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