2027 Oscar International Feature Race: Japan, Germany, and South Korea Lead Early Submissions

Key points

• Japan selected Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s 'All of a Sudden' for the 99th Academy Awards, marking his second submission after winning with 'Drive My Car' in 2021.
• Germany chose Sandra Wollner’s 'Everytime', which won the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes, as its official entry for the 2027 campaign.
• South Korea submitted Lee Chang-dong’s 'Possible Love', his first film in eight years, starring Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu.
• New AMPAS rules allow films winning top awards at Cannes, Berlin, Busan, Sundance, Toronto, and Venice to qualify directly, bypassing national selection committees.
• The 15-film shortlist will be revealed on December 15, 2026, with nominations announced on January 21, 2027, and the ceremony held on March 14, 2027.

Background

The 2026-27 awards season has seen significant rule changes for the International Feature Film category, including new eligibility criteria for major festival winners. Previous campaigns, such as the 2025 win by Joachim Trier’s 'Sentimental Value', set the stage for this year’s competition. The new rules aim to broaden the pool of eligible films by recognizing critical acclaim at top-tier festivals.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter both highlight the strategic implications of the new AMPAS rules, noting that films like 'Yellow Letters' (Berlin Golden Bear winner) and 'Fjord' (Cannes Palme d’Or winner) can now qualify without national submission. The Playlist emphasizes the competitive landscape, focusing on key submissions like 'Coward', 'Possible Love', and 'Everytime'. The Film Experience source was inaccessible due to a security error, providing no additional perspective.

Why it matters

The 2027 International Feature Film race is shaping up to be highly competitive, with strong contenders from major film-producing nations. The new AMPAS rules could significantly impact the shortlist, allowing festival winners to bypass traditional national selection processes. This could lead to a more diverse and critically acclaimed field of nominees, potentially influencing the outcome of the Best Picture race as well.

What to watch

The 15-film shortlist for the 2027 Best International Feature Film will be revealed on December 15, 2026. Nominations will be announced on January 21, 2027, with the 99th Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for March 14, 2027. Countries continue to submit their official entries, with the deadline set for September 30, 2026.