The 2027 Oscar season is in full swing, with the race for the Best International Feature Film award heating up. Countries around the world are selecting their submissions, and the competition is more exciting than ever. This year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has introduced new rules that allow films winning top awards at select international festivals to qualify directly.
The deadline for submissions is September 30, with the shortlist of 15 films to be revealed on December 15. The final five nominees will be announced on January 21, 2027, leading up to the 99th Academy Awards ceremony on March 14. Last year, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value took home the award, having previously won the Grand Prix at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
The New Rules of the Game
This year, the International Feature Film category has seen significant changes. In addition to the traditional method of countries submitting their official selections, non-English-language films can now qualify by winning a top award at one of six prestigious festivals: Cannes (Palme d’Or), Berlin (Golden Bear), Busan (Best Film), Sundance (World Cinema Grand Jury Prize), Toronto (Platform Award), and Venice (Golden Lion).
This new rule has already made an impact, with films like Ilker Lapali’s Yellow Letters which won the Golden Bear in Berlin, and Shame and Money, which won Sundance’s narrative World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, qualifying for the competition. These films will be credited as nominees rather than representing a specific country or region, with the director’s name listed on the statuette plaque.
Notable Submissions So Far
Several countries have already announced their submissions, showcasing a diverse range of films. Austria has submitted Markus Schleinzer’s Rose a black-and-white period drama that won star Sandra Hüller the Silver Bear leading performance prize at the 2026 Berlin Film Festival. The film is set in 17th century Germany and explores themes of identity and deception.
Colombia has chosen Gala del Sol’s debut feature Rains Over Babel which reimagines Dante’s Inferno with a queer twist set in a mythical, surrealist city. The Czech Republic has selected Pepa Ljubojacki’s documentary If Pigeons Turned to Gold which follows the director’s brother and two cousins as their addictions destroy their relationships and homes.
The Dominican Republic has submitted Andrés Farías’ drama Melodrama which centers on a widow forced to deal with grief and the tensions between Dominican and Haitian communities. Kosovo has chosen Blerta Basholli’s period drama Dua set in late 1990s Pristina and focusing on a 13-year-old girl struggling with expectations of womanhood.
The Czech Connection
The Czech Republic has a strong presence in this year’s competition, with not only its own submission but also through co-productions submitted by other countries. Slovakia has selected Martin Gonda’s Flood a Czech co-production that explores the forced displacement of a Rusyn community in eastern Slovakia. This film won six awards at Slovakia’s 2026 national film awards, the Sun in a Net Awards.
Lithuania has chosen another Czech co-production, How to Divorce During the War for its submission. This highlights the growing trend of cross-border production in European cinema and the increasing involvement of Czech production companies in international projects.
The 2027 Oscar race for Best International Feature Film promises to be a thrilling competition, with a diverse range of films vying for the prestigious award. As more countries announce their submissions, the field will continue to grow, showcasing the best of world cinema.
