Oscars 2027: submissions, shortlists and voting calendar

Anyone trying to determine whether a film is “already in the 2027 Oscars” must first identify its current stage. Submission, eligibility, shortlisting and nomination are different statuses. Under the Academy’s published calendar, shortlists will be announced on December 15, 2026, nominations on January 21, 2027, and the 99th Oscars ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027.

The distinction matters because a submission presented for consideration is not the same as a place among the nominees. Nor is there a single entry deadline for every category. Dates and rules remain subject to change, according to the Academy; before making a professional decision, check the official calendar for the 99th Oscars.

The main 2027 Oscars timeline

The process began with the first submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film and Live Action Short Film on August 13, 2026. September 17 was the first deadline for General Entry categories, Animated Feature Film, Best Picture and the RAISE form concerning representation and inclusion standards.

The remaining submission milestones vary by field: International Feature Film has a September 30 deadline; animated, documentary and live action shorts, October 8; Original Song, October 14; Documentary Feature Film, October 15; and Original Score, November 4. The final deadline for General Entry categories, Animated Feature Film, Best Picture and the RAISE form is November 12.

This sequence shows why saying “Oscar submissions have closed” can be inaccurate: on a particular date, entries may have ended in some categories while remaining open in others.

Submission and eligibility are not synonyms

Submission means presenting a film or achievement through the applicable procedure and by the relevant deadline. Eligibility depends on compliance with category rules. For feature films, for example, the Academy’s release on the 99th Oscars rules says the qualifying theatrical release must take place between January 1 and December 31, 2026.

The existence of a submission form, a campaign or a report about an entry therefore does not, on its own, show that the Academy has confirmed eligibility. It also does not mean members have already voted for the title. A correct reading requires identifying the category and the stage that has been officially announced.

A shortlist is not a nomination

Preliminary voting is scheduled to begin on December 7 and end on December 11, 2026. The shortlist announcement follows four days later, on December 15. A shortlist narrows the field in categories that use this stage, but it is not yet the official list of Oscar nominees.

From January 8 to 10, 2027, the calendar reserves evaluation events known as bake-offs for Casting, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound and Visual Effects. The voting that actually determines the nominations begins on January 11 and ends on January 15.

There are category-specific rule changes as well. Cinematography will have a preliminary selection of 20 films. In International Feature Film, alongside official selection by a country or region through an Academy-approved committee, a non-English-language film may enter by winning a qualifying award at one of the festivals listed by the Academy. These changes do not remove the later voting stages.

Nomination status begins after January 21

The Academy has set the nominations announcement for January 21, 2027. Until then, terms such as “entered,” “submitted,” “eligible” or “shortlisted” should not be converted into “nominated.” The safest standard is straightforward: a film or professional should be described as a nominee only after appearing in the official nominations announcement.

This distinction also prevents confusion between the main race and the institution’s other initiatives. The Academy’s official news index, for example, includes Student Academy Awards announcements, institutional decisions and information about scientific and technical awards. Appearing in that news feed does not by itself establish a work’s status in the competitive Oscars race.

Final voting determines the winners

After nominations are announced, the nominees luncheon is scheduled for February 16. Final voting begins on February 25 and ends on March 4, 2027. This round takes place among the officially nominated contenders and determines the winners who will be revealed at the March 14 ceremony.

The correct order is therefore: submission by the relevant deadline; eligibility assessment under the rules; preliminary voting and shortlisting where applicable; nominations voting; the nominations announcement; and final voting. Not every category follows identical preliminary stages, which is why category rules should take precedence over general descriptions.

How to verify a film’s status

When encountering a claim about the race, look for the precise verb used by the source: “submitted” describes entry; “eligible” indicates compliance with rules; “shortlisted” identifies a preliminary selection; and “nominated” depends on the January 21 announcement. Then verify the claim against the Academy’s calendar, rules or official news.

Because every date and rule for the 99th Oscars is subject to change, revisit the official links near each milestone. To continue the conversation about film and culture in São Paulo, Becoartes is at Rua Gonçalo Afonso, 99, Vila Madalena; confirm institutional information on the Becoartes website.