The Cannes Film Festival has once again proved its ability to pick world-class winners, with six films from its 2025 Official Selection making it to the Oscars shortlist, which was announced this week.
The festival organisers said they were “delighted” to see that six films from its official selection had garnered 19 Academy Award nominations across 12 categories.
“The Festival de Cannes warmly congratulates the nominees and wishes them the success they deserve at the 98th Academy Award ceremony,” the festival said in a press release. See the list below.
This year’s award ceremony for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be held on 15 March 2026 in Los Angeles.
How do the Oscar nominations work and who votes?
There are 24 categories which will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for Best Picture, which has ten.
Active members of the Academy have to watch all the nominated films in order to be eligible to vote, the Academy said in a press statement. Members include about 10,000 film professionals (some of whom have previously won an Oscar themselves).
Since 2016 the Academy has deliberately expanded membership to expand diversity – including inviting younger professionals, more women and under-represented groups, and more international filmmakers, according to the Oscars.
Final voting begins on Thursday 26 February 2026, and concludes on Thursday 5 March 2026. Visit https://www.oscars.org/oscars/voting for more information.
The votes are cast by secret online ballot, and tabulated by independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
6 Cannes’ Official Selection films which have received Oscar nominations are:
Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier – Winner, Cannes 2025 Grand Prix
9 Oscar nominations
- Best Picture
- Best International Feature Film
- Best Directing
- Best Actress in a leading role : Renate Reinsve
- Best Performance Actor in a supporting role : Stellan Skarsgård
- Best Performance Actress in a supporting role : Elle Fanning
- Best Performance Actress in a supporting role : Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best Editing
The Secret Agent by Kleber Mendonça Filho – Winner, Cannes’ Best Director and Best Actor
4 Oscar nominations
- Best Picture
- Best International Feature Film
- Best Actor in a leading role : Wagner Moura
- Best Casting
It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi’ – Winner, Palme d’or
2 Oscar nominations
- Best International Feature Film
- Best Original Screenplay
Sirāt by Oliver Laxe – Winner, Jury Prize
2 nominations
- Best International Feature Film
- Best Sound
Arco by Ugo Bienvenu
1 Oscar nomination
- Best Animated Feature Film
Little Amelie by Maylis Vallade and Liane-Cho Han
1 nomination
- Best Animated Feature Film
The 79th Festival de Cannes will take place from 12 to 23 May 2026
