A film announced as its country’s representative has not yet been nominated for an Oscar. The announcement means that a national or regional committee has chosen to submit it in the International Feature Film category. The film must still comply with Academy rules, reach the shortlist stage and then secure a nomination.
The 99th edition also introduces an important development: certain winners from Berlin, Busan, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and Venice may be submitted through a second route. This change expands the ways a film can enter, but it does not automatically turn a festival award into a shortlist place or an Oscar nomination.
A country’s selection is the beginning, not the result
The Academy says the traditional route remains the submission of an official selection by a country or region through an approved selection committee. When a national institution announces its representative, therefore, the accurate description is “selected” or “submitted by the country,” not “Oscar-nominated.”
The distinction matters because separate decisions follow. First, the country or region chooses a film. The entry must then meet the Academy’s applicable requirements. Preliminary voting, the shortlist announcement and nominations voting come later. Only films included in the official announcement on January 21, 2027, will be nominees.
The Academy’s rules and eligibility page separately provides rules, frequently asked questions, a submission checklist and selection-committee information for International Feature Film. Those materials underline that a national choice does not replace the other requirements.
The new route covers six specific awards
According to the official release about the 99th Academy Awards rules, non-English-language films may now enter consideration through two routes. Alongside an official country or regional selection, a film may be submitted by winning a designated qualifying award at an international festival.
The published list for this edition is exact: the Berlin International Film Festival’s Golden Bear for Best Film; the Busan International Film Festival’s Busan Award — Best Film Award; the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or; the Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Grand Jury Prize; the Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform Award; and the Venice International Film Festival’s Golden Lion.
Merely screening at one of these festivals, winning another section or receiving any award at the same event is therefore not enough. The published rule links this route to the six festivals and specified prizes. Before describing a film as qualified, readers should check the current wording and category materials on the official site because rules and dates may change.
A festival victory is not a nomination either
The second route changes who may submit a film for consideration; it does not remove the later competition. “Eligible for submission,” “submitted,” “shortlisted” and “nominated” identify different moments.
Four questions provide a reliable way to read news reports and campaigns. Who submitted the film: a national committee or the qualifying-award route? Does the entry comply with the current materials and requirements? Did the film appear on the official shortlist? Finally, was it included in the nominations announcement? Without that last confirmation, it is not an Oscar nominee.
The change also means coverage need not be limited to the phrase “a country’s representative.” Even so, the festival alternative does not mean that every internationally awarded film has entered the race. Both the prize and the festival must match the Academy’s published list.
The September deadline and the road to the ceremony
The International Feature Film submission deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Preliminary voting is then scheduled for December 7–11, followed by the Oscars shortlists announcement on December 15, 2026.
Nominations voting is scheduled for January 11–15, 2027. The nominees will be announced on January 21. Final voting will run from February 25 to March 4, and the 99th Oscars ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 14, 2027. The Academy’s official calendar states that every date is subject to change, so it should be checked again near each stage.
These milestones help correct premature headlines. In September, the central fact is submission. In December, “shortlisted” is accurate only after the official list appears. In January, “nominated” applies only to titles confirmed by the Academy.
The category is also changing how a nomination is credited
The Academy announced another change for 2027: in International Feature Film, the film will be credited as the nominee rather than the country or region. If it wins, the director will accept the award on behalf of the creative team. The director’s name will appear on the statuette plaque after the film title and, when applicable, the country or region.
That revision makes it even more useful to separate national representation from final recognition. A country remains relevant in the official-committee route, but the nomination will belong to the film. Accurate coverage should preserve the verb for each phase: the country selects, the film is submitted, and the Academy later announces the shortlist and nominees.
A place in São Paulo
Becoartes is located at Rua Gonçalo Afonso, 99, Vila Madalena, São Paulo. Confirm the address on the official Becoartes website before visiting.
Becoartes in Vila Madalena
Find Becoartes at Rua Gonçalo Afonso, 99, Vila Madalena, São Paulo. Confirm the address on its official website before visiting.
Becoartes - Beco do Batman
99 Gonçalo Afonso Street, Vila Madalena, São Paulo