Oscars: 'Fjord,' 'La Bola Negra' Lead Intl Feature Race — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- 'La Bola Negra' won the TIFF People’s Choice Award and is Spain’s official submission, positioning it as a strong early contender for the Best International Feature Oscar
- 'Fjord' earned Romania its Palme d’Or win at Cannes and now leads the Oscar field alongside fellow Cannes standout 'Minotaur', which France is submitting despite not winning the top prize
- 'Woman Unknown' secured the Golden Lion at Venice as Denmark’s entry but faces uncertainty due to lack of U.S. distribution, a potential hurdle for Academy voters
- South Korea entered 'Possible Love', directed by Lee Chang-dong, who won Best Director at Venice, giving the film significant awards-season momentum
- Pakistan selected Mo Naqvi’s doc thriller 'Hanging By A Wire' as its official Oscar submission, marking a rare documentary push in the category
- The official list of submissions will be confirmed after the deadline passed Oct. 1, 2026, with shortlists to be announced Dec. 15 and nominations revealed Jan. 21, 2027
Why it matters: With key festivals now feeding the Oscar race, films like 'Fjord' and 'La Bola Negra' gain concrete advantages in visibility and credibility among voters, while entries without U.S. distribution—like 'Woman Unknown'—face steeper outreach challenges despite top honors abroad, altering their campaign costs and strategies.
Ask SkimNews
