This year, of the 86 films submitted by countries competing for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film—in addition to It Was Just an Accident, representing France—23 are French productions or co-productions, including three majority-French co-productions.
The presence this year of 23 French-produced or co-produced films (excluding Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident, produced for France by Les Films Pelléas, and co-produced by Pio & Co), once again demonstrates the remarkable vitality of the country's production companies on the international stage, which are heavily involved in co-productions, some of which receive support from the CNC's Aide aux Cinémas du Monde program.
The films competing for the award will be selected in successive stages, with an initial shortlist (fifteen films) to be announced on December 16. The final list of films competing for the award will be announced on January 22. The ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026.
All the French (co-)produced films in the running for the 2026 Oscar for Best International Feature Film
It Was Just an Accident, the film chosen to represent France, is not mentioned de facto. French production companies are mentioned for each film, as are international sales companies when they are French. Majority-French films appear in bold.
- Armenia: My Armenian Phantoms by Tamara Stepanyan (FR prod: TS Productions, French Kiss Production - film yet to be classified)
- Belgium: The Young Mothers' Home by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne (FR prod: Archipel 35 • International Sales: Goodfellas)
- Bhutan: I, the Song by Dechen Roder (FR prod: Girelle Production, Follow Back Films)
- Brazil: The Secret Agent by Kleber Mendonça Filho (FR prod: MK Productions • International Sales: mk2 films)
- Canada: The Things You Kill by Alireza Khatami (FR prod: Fulgurance, Remora Films)
- Chile: The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo by Diego Céspedes (FR prod: Les Valseurs • International Sales: Charades)
- Dominican Republic: Pepe by Nelson Carlos de los Santos Arias (FR prod: 4 A 4 Productions)
- Georgia: Panopticon by George Sikharulidze (FR prod: Filmo2)
- Hungary: Orphan by László Nemes (FR prod: Agat Films - Ex nihilo / Lumen • International Sales: Charades)
- Iceland: The Love That Remains by Hlynur Pálmason (FR prod: Maneki Films)
- Morocco: Calle Malaga by Maryam Touzani MAJO (FR prod: Les Films du Nouveau Monde)
- Norway: Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier (FR prod: MK Productions, Lumen • International Sales: mk2 films)
- Palestine: Palestine 36 by Annemarie Jacir (FR prod: MK Productions • International Sales: Lucky Number)
- Paraguay: Under the Flags, the Sun by Juan José Pereira (FR prod: Lardux Films)
- Philippines: Magellan by Lav Diaz (FR prod: Lib Films • International Sales : Luxbox)
- Poland: Franz by Agnieszka Holland (FR prod: BAC Films)
- Portugal: Banzo by Margarida Cardoso (FR prod: Les Films de l'Après-Midi, Damned Films)
- Singapore: Stranger Eyes by Siew Hua Yeo (FR prod: Films de Force Majeure • International Sales: Playtime)
- Spain: Sirât by Oliver Laxe (FR prod: 4 A 4 Productions)
- Sweden: Eagles of the Republic by Tarik Saleh (FR prod: Memento Production, Films Boutique Production • International Sales: Playtime)
- Taiwan: Left-Handed Girl by Shih-Ching Tsou (FR prod: Le Pacte • International Sales: Le Pacte)
- Thailand: A Useful Ghost by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke (FR prod: Haut Les Mains Productions)
- Tunisia: The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania (FR prod: Tanit Films • International Sales: The Party Film Sales)
--> The complete list of films submitted for the 2026 Oscar for Best International Feature Film
