17/12/2025 - The titles advancing to the next stage are Sirāt, It Was Just an Accident, Sentimental Value, Sound of Falling and Late Shift

Yesterday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists in 12 categories for the 98th Academy Awards: Animated Short Film, Casting, Cinematography, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, International Feature Film, Live-Action Short Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Sound and Visual Effects.

European cinema once again features prominently across the shortlists, with continental titles and co-productions present in every major category. Out of the 15 films advancing in the International Feature Film category, five are European national submissions, joined by several titles involving European co-production partners. The five national submissions are France’s It Was Just an Accident [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jafar Panahi
film profile] by Jafar Panahi, Germany’s Sound of Falling [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mascha Schilinski
film profile] by Mascha Schilinski, Spain’s Sirāt [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Óliver Laxe
film profile] by Óliver Laxe, Switzerland’s Late Shift [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Petra Volpe
film profile] by Petra Volpe and Norway’s Sentimental Value [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile] by Joachim Trier, alongside titles submitted by non-European territories but closely tied to the continent’s production ecosystem – All That’s Left of You [+see also:
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interview: Cherien Dabis
film profile] by Cherien Dabis (Germany/Palestine/Jordan/Cyprus), The Secret Agent [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Kleber Mendonça Filho (Brazil/France/Netherlands/Germany), Left-Handed Girl [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Shih-Ching Tsou (Taiwan/USA/UK/France), The Voice of Hind Rajab [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kaouther Ben Hania
film profile] by Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia/France), Palestine 36 [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine/UK/France/Denmark/Qatar/Saudi Arabia/Jordan) and No Other Choice [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Park Chan-wook (South Korea/France).

Sirāt has also managed an outstanding feat - one that is not all that common for European films - which is being shortlisted for no fewer than four technical categories, including Best Cinematography, Best Music, Best Sound and this year's new category of Best Casting. Sentimental Value is also present in two other categories (Best Cinematography and Best Casting), whereas Sound of Falling has a nod for Best Cinematography. Other European productions present in the technical categories include Yorgos Lanthimos' Bugonia [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Ireland/UK/USA/South Korea), in Best Music and Best Cinematography; Richard Linklater's Nouvelle Vague [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France) and Lynne Ramsay's Die My Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (USA/Canada/UK), both in Best Cinematography; and The Ugly Stepsister [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Emilie Blichfeldt (Norway/Poland/Sweden/Denmark), in Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

European productions and co-productions also stand out in the Documentary Feature Film shortlist, which includes a strong contingent of politically and socially engaged titles. Among them are Coexistence, My Ass! [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Amber Fares, Apocalypse in the Tropics by Petra Costa (Brazil/USA/UK), Folktales [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, Mr. Nobody Against Putin [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Borenstein
film profile] by David Borenstein, and 2000 Meters to Andriivka [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Mstyslav Chernov, reflecting the continued strength of European non-fiction filmmaking on the international stage. Several of these movies have already made the festival rounds at major European showcases, consolidating their awards momentum.

The short-film categories further underline Europe’s presence. In Animated Short Film, European productions such as Éiru by Giovanna Ferrari, Hurikán by Jan Saska, Playing God by Matteo Burani, I Died in Irpin by Anastasiia Falileieva, The Shyness of Trees by Sofiia Chuikovska, Loïck du Plessis d’Argentré, Lina Han, Simin He, Jiaxin Huang, Maud Le Bras and Bingqing Shu, and The Three Sisters by Timur Kognov advance to the shortlist, while the Live-Action Short Film line-up features a diverse array of European-backed titles, including Beyond Silence by Marnie Blok, The Boy with White Skin by Simon Panay and The Pearl Comb by Ali Cook.

The 98th Oscars ceremony will take place on 15 March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Here are the Oscar shortlists:

International Feature Film

Argentina: Belén – Dolores Fonzi (Argentina)
Brazil: The Secret Agent [+see also:
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trailer
film profile] – Kleber Mendonça Filho (Brazil/France/Netherlands/Germany)
France: It Was Just an Accident [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jafar Panahi
film profile] – Jafar Panahi (France/Luxembourg/Iran)
Germany: Sound of Falling [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mascha Schilinski
film profile] - Mascha Schilinski (Germany)
India: Homebound - Neeraj Ghaywan (India)
Iraq: The President’s Cake - Hasan Hadi (Iraq/USA/Qatar)
Japan: Kokuho – Lee Sang-il (Japan)
Jordan: All That’s Left of You [+see also:
film review
interview: Cherien Dabis
film profile] – Cherien Dabis (Germany/Palestine/Jordan/Cyprus)
Norway: Sentimental Value [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile] – Joachim Trier (Norway/France/German/Denmark/Sweden/UK)
Palestine: Palestine 36 [+see also:
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film profile] – Annemarie Jacir (Palestine/UK/France/Denmark/Qatar/Saudi Arabia/Jordan)
South Korea: No Other Choice [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Park Chan-wook (South Korea/France)
Spain: Sirāt [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Óliver Laxe
film profile] - Óliver Laxe (Spain/France)
Switzerland: Late Shift [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Petra Volpe
film profile] – Petra Volpe (Switzerland/Germany)
Taiwan: Left-Handed Girl [+see also:
film review
film profile] – Shih-Ching Tsou (Taiwan/USA/UK/France)
Tunisia: The Voice of Hind Rajab [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kaouther Ben Hania
film profile] - Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia/France)

Documentary Feature Film

2000 Meters to Andriivka [+see also:
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trailer
film profile] — Mstyslav Chernov (Ukraine/USA)
The Alabama Solution — Andrew Jarecki, Charlotte Kaufman (USA)
Apocalypse in the Tropics — Petra Costa (Brazil/USA/UK)
Coexistence, My Ass! [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] — Amber Fares (USA/France)
Come See Me in the Good Light — Ryan White (USA)
Cover-Up — Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus (USA)
Cutting through Rocks [+see also:
film review
film profile] — Sara Khaki, Mohammad Reza Eyni (Iran/Qatar/Chile/Canada/Netherlands/Germany/USA)
Folktales [+see also:
trailer
film profile] — Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady (Norway/USA)
Holding Liat — Brandon Kramer (USA)
Mr. Nobody Against Putin [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Borenstein
film profile] — David Borenstein (Denmark/Czech Republic/Germany)
Mistress Dispeller — Elizabeth Lo (China/USA)
My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow — Julia Loktev (USA)
The Perfect Neighbor — Geeta Gandbhir (USA)
Seeds — Brittany Shyne (USA)
Yanuni — Richard Ladkani (Austria/Brazil/USA/Canada/Germany)

Live-Action Short Film

Ado – Sam Henderson (USA)
Amarela – André Hayato Saito (Brazil)
Beyond Silence – Marnie Blok (Netherlands)
The Boy with White Skin – Simon Panay (France/Senegal)
Butcher’s Stain – Meyer Levinson-Blount (Israel)
Butterfly on a Wheel – Trevor Morris (Canada)
Dad’s Not Home – Jan Saczek (Poland)
Extremist – Alexander Molochnikov (Latvia)
A Friend of Dorothy – Lee Knight (UK)
Jane Austen’s Period Drama – Julia Aks, Steve Pinder (USA)
Pantyhose – Fabian Munsterhjelm (Finland)
The Pearl Comb – Ali Cook (UK)
Rock, Paper, Scissors – Franz Böhm (UK)
The Singers – Sam A Davis (USA)
Two People Exchanging Saliva – Natalie Musteata, Alexandre Singh (France/USA)

Animated Short Film

Autokar – Sylwia Szkiłądź (Belgium/France)
Butterfly – Sunčana Brkulj (Croatia/Denmark)
Cardboard – JP “Jean-Philippe” Vine (UK)
Éiru – Giovanna Ferrari (Ireland)
Forevergreen – Nathan Engelhardt, Jeremy Spears (USA)
The Girl Who Cried Pearls – Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski (Canada)
Hurikán – Jan Saska (Czech Republic/France/Slovakia/Bosnia and Herzegovina)
I Died in Irpin – Anastasiia Falileieva (Czech Republic/Slovakia/Ukraine)
The Night Boots – Pierre-Luc Granjon (France)
Playing God – Matteo Burani (Italy/France)
The Quinta’s Ghost – James A Castillo (Spain)
Retirement Plan – John Kelly (Ireland)
The Shyness of Trees – Sofiia Chuikovska, Loïck du Plessis d’Argentré, Lina Han, Simin He, Jiaxin Huang, Maud Le Bras, Bingqing Shu (France)
Snow Bear – Aaron Blaise (USA)
The Three Sisters – Timur Kognov (Cyprus)

Documentary Short Film

All the Empty Rooms – Joshua Seftel (USA)
All the Walls Came Down – Ondi Timoner (USA)
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud – Craig Renaud, Brent Renaud (USA)
Bad Hostage – Mimi Wilcox (USA)
Cashing Out – Matt Nadel (USA)
Chasing Time – Jeff Orlowski-Yang, Sarah Keo (USA)
Children No More: “Were and Are Gone” – Hilla Medalia (Israel)
Classroom 4 – Eden Wurmfeld (USA)
The Devil Is Busy – Geeta Gandbhir, Christalyn Hampton (USA)
Heartbeat – Jay Rosenblatt, Stephanie Rapp (USA)
Last Days on Lake Trinity – Charlotte Cooley (USA)
On Healing Land, Birds Perch – Naja Pham Lockwood (USA)
Perfectly a Strangeness – Alison McAlpine (Canada)
Rovina’s Choice – Thomas Jennings, Annie Wong (USA)
We Were the Scenery – Christopher Radcliff (USA/Canada)

Casting
Frankenstein (Mexico/USA)
Hamnet [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (USA/UK)
Marty Supreme (USA)
One Battle after Another (USA)
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners (USA)
Sirāt
Weapons (USA)
Wicked: For Good (USA)

Cinematography
Ballad of a Small Player [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (UK/Germany)
Bugonia [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Ireland/UK/USA/South Korea)
Die My Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (USA/Canada/UK)
F1 (USA)
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
Nouvelle Vague [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France)
One Battle after Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Sirāt
Song Sung Blue (USA)
Sound of Falling
Train Dreams (USA)
Wicked: For Good

Music (Original Score)

Avatar: Fire and Ash (USA)
Bugonia
Captain America: Brave New World (USA)
Diane Warren: Relentless (USA)
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Hedda (USA)
A House of Dynamite (USA)
Jay Kelly [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (USA/UK/Italy)
Marty Supreme
Nuremberg (USA)
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Sirāt
Train Dreams
Tron: Ares (USA/Canada/New Zealand)
Truth and Treason (USA)
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (USA)
Wicked: For Good

Music (Original Song)

“As Alive As You Need Me To Be” – Tron: Ares
“Dear Me” – Diane Warren: Relentless
“Dream As One” – Avatar: Fire and Ash
“Drive” – F1
“Dying to Live” – Billy Idol Should Be Dead (USA)
“The Girl in the Bubble” – Wicked: For Good
“Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters (USA)
“Highest 2 Lowest” – Highest 2 Lowest (USA)
“I Lied To You” – Sinners
“Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” – Sinners
“No Place Like Home” – Wicked: For Good
“Our Love” – The Ballad of Wallis Island [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (UK)
“Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” – Come See Me in the Good Light
“Sweet Dreams of Joy” – Viva Verdi! (USA)
“Train Dreams” – Train Dreams

Sound

Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (USA)
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Sirāt
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (USA)
Superman (USA)
Wicked: For Good

Visual Effects

Avatar: Fire and Ash
The Electric State (USA)
F1
Frankenstein
Jurassic World Rebirth (USA)
The Lost Bus (USA)
Sinners
Superman
Tron: Ares
Wicked: For Good

Makeup and Hairstyling

The Alto Knights (USA)
Frankenstein
Kokuho
Marty Supreme
Nuremberg
One Battle after Another
Sinners
The Smashing Machine (USA)
The Ugly Stepsister [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Norway/Poland/Sweden/Denmark)
Wicked: For Good