The Academy Awards shortlist of 15 films for the Best International Feature category at the 98th Oscars will be announced on December 16. With entries from 86 countries, experts predict a competitive field featuring festival winners and crossover hits. Deadline highlights potential contenders based on critical acclaim and awards buzz.
Upcoming Announcement
The 98th Academy Awards will reveal its shortlist for Best International Feature Film on December 16, narrowing down submissions from 86 countries to 15 finalists. This category continues to showcase global cinema, blending documentaries, dramas, and innovative narratives that have triumphed at major festivals like Cannes, Venice, and Sundance.
Key Predictions
Deadline's preview spotlights several strong contenders. From Ukraine, '2000 Meters to Andriivka' by Mstyslav Chernov documents Ukrainian soldiers' harrowing mission amid the ongoing conflict. Chernov noted the film's claustrophobic focus as a metaphor for the war: "You cannot get out." It earned a Directing award at Sundance and nods from Critics Choice and Gotham Awards.
Italy's 'Familia,' directed by Francesco Costabile, explores youth in a violent far-right milieu, premiering at Venice where it won acting prizes. France's 'It Was Just An Accident' by Jafar Panahi, a Palme d'Or winner at Cannes, delves into revenge and doubt under oppression, securing Golden Globe nominations and Gotham wins.
Other frontrunners include India's 'Homebound' (Neeraj Ghaywan, Netflix), a tale of friendship and migration inspired by real events; Japan's 'Kokuho' (Lee Sang-il, GKids), chronicling kabuki ambitions; and Hong Kong's 'The Last Dance' (Anselm Chan), a box-office hit on life's transitions that swept local awards.
Festival Buzz and Crossover Potential
Many predictions stem from Cannes triumphs, such as Taiwan's 'Left-Handed Girl' (Shih-Ching Tsou, Netflix), addressing family tensions and superstition, or Norway's 'Sentimental Value' (Joachim Trier, Neon), examining familial rifts with stars like Stellan Skarsgård. Brazil's 'The Secret Agent' (Kleber Mendonça Filho, Neon) won top Cannes honors, while Iraq's debut 'The President's Cake' (Hasan Hadi, Sony Pictures Classics) hauntingly portrays life under dictatorship.
Directors emphasize universal themes: Park Chan-wook of Korea's 'No Other Choice' (Neon) infused dark comedy into job desperation, and Kaouther Ben Hania's Tunisian entry 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' (Willa) reconstructs a tragic Gaza incident to confront global inaction. Special mentions go to films from Greece, Poland, and beyond.
This year's list promises diversity, with potential for crossovers into other Oscar races amid a crowded field of compelling stories.
