Iran’s ‘Cause of Death: Unknown’ joins packed 2026 Oscars eligible list
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Saturday placed Iran’s ‘Cause of Death: Unknown,’ directed by Ali Zarnegar, on its long slate of eligible titles for the 98th Oscars, as it rolled out more than 300 contenders across the animated, documentary and international feature categories.
The Academy’s animation branch will sift through 35 animated features this winter, trimming them to five nominees once each title meets the Academy’s year-end qualifying rules. Several films still need their US qualifying run and must “tick every box” before they move to the ballot, IRNA reported.
Animated submissions can also compete for best picture, though such cross-category breakthroughs have been rare since Pixar’s ‘Toy Story 3’ and ‘Up.’
Documentary feature again drew the heftiest slate with 201 entries, though a number of films have yet to complete their theatrical requirements. The documentary branch plans to carve out a 15-title shortlist on December 16, the same day shortlists for animated short and documentary short land. Documentaries officially submitted by countries for the international race can also vie for the non-fiction trophy.
The international feature category attracted 86 submissions this year. The rules define the category as feature-length works produced outside the United States with mainly non-English dialogue.
The Academy has loosened language rules over the years, allowing countries to submit films that do not necessarily use the national language, a shift that let France enter this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘It Was Just an Accident,’ directed by the Iranian filmmaker who works there.
Ballots for preliminary voting open on December 8, and close on December 12. Members across all branches may take part if they fulfil the minimum viewing requirements. The 15-film shortlist for the international race will also be unveiled on December 16.
Nominees for all categories will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026, with the ceremony set for March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
This year’s regional standouts include Norway’s ‘Sentimental Value,’ Brazil’s ‘The Secret Agent,’ South Korea’s ‘No Other Choice,’ Spain’s ‘Sirât,’ and France’s ‘It Was Just an Accident.’ Iraq’s ‘The President’s Cake,’ Taiwan’s ‘Left-Handed Girl,’ co-written with Oscar-winner Sean Baker, and Ukraine’s documentary ‘2000 Meters to Andriivka’ by 2024 Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov also made the cut.