Cuba, Denmark, Vietnam, Italy and France have submitted films for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, joining a growing field of nations competing for the 2026 trophy, Variety reported. The submissions mark the opening phase of a race that typically draws entries from more than 90 countries before the deadline closes.
The Best International Feature Film category, formerly known as Best Foreign Language Film, requires each country to submit a single title chosen by a national selection committee. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences then narrows the field to a shortlist of 15 before announcing five nominees.
Cuba's entry, "Hanging by a Wire," is among the submissions confirmed so far. The film's title appeared in the source material, though details about its director and cast were not immediately available.
Italy and France, two of the most successful nations in the category's history, are again in the mix. Italy has won the award 14 times, more than any other country, most recently with Paolo Sorrentino's "The Great Beauty" in 2014. France has taken the prize 12 times, including "The Artist" in 2012, though that win came during the category's silent-film eligibility era.
Denmark's submission adds to a strong recent run for the country. Danish films have won the category twice in the past decade: "In a Better World" in 2011 and "Another Round" in 2021. Vietnam, meanwhile, has never won the award and has only been nominated once, for Tran Anh Hung's "The Scent of Green Papaya" in 1994.
The submission window for the 2026 ceremony remains open, and countries typically announce their picks through October. The Academy will announce the shortlist in December, with the five nominees revealed in January ahead of the March ceremony.
International submissions have gained prominence in recent years as streaming platforms have made foreign-language films more accessible to American audiences. "Parasite," South Korea's 2020 entry, became the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture, a milestone that raised the category's profile.
Countries that fail to submit by the Academy's deadline forfeit their chance to compete. Nations with smaller film industries often rely on government-funded selection committees, while larger markets like France and Italy use industry panels that can generate internal controversy over which film gets the nod.
The 2026 Academy Awards are scheduled for March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
