The Academy's push for diversity has widened the best director Oscar race to international talents like Joachim Trier and Jafar Panahi. With 55% of 2025 invitees from outside the U.S., films from Cannes and other festivals are gaining traction. Contenders include directors from Norway, Iran, South Korea, and beyond, highlighting global storytelling.
Background on Academy Diversification
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has diversified its voting membership, with 55% of 2025's invitees hailing from outside the U.S. This shift has led to more international films earning nominations and wins, such as 'Drive My Car' and 'Emilia Pérez.' As a result, the best director category is becoming more global, moving beyond U.S.-centric nominees.
Key International Contenders
Strong contenders this year include Joachim Trier for 'Sentimental Value,' a family drama that won the Grand Prix at Cannes. Jafar Panahi's 'It Was Just an Accident,' a Palme d'Or winner, was selected by France as its international entry due to issues with Iran's regime. Other notable directors are Park Chan-wook ('No Other Choice'), Kleber Mendonça Filho ('The Secret Agent'), Kaouther Ben Hania ('The Voice of Hind Rajab'), Oliver Laxe ('Sirāt'), and Annemarie Jacir ('Palestine 36').
Challenges and Opportunities
Directors face hurdles like funding cuts in Korea under former president Yoon Suk Yeol and reliance on co-productions in Palestine. Park Chan-wook noted the post-pandemic shift in Korean cinema toward darker themes amid declining theater attendance. Panahi called for solutions to remove international feature submissions from state control in authoritarian countries. Festivals like Cannes and Middleburg have become crucial platforms, with Trier praising Cannes as a 'fantastic loudspeaker' for global cinema.
Quotes from Contenders
'There’s a humanism in that we can all look at specific stories from different places and really identify with each other,' Trier said. Hania highlighted the silencing of Palestinian and Arab voices: 'Movies from Palestine exist... but they don’t reach the U.S.' Filho appreciated the welcome despite the Academy's U.S. roots: 'I feel foreign, but very much welcome into the mix.'