Academy targets broader global reach, widening Oscars’ international film category qualifiers
The Academy is shaking up how movies reach the Oscars’ international film category, with more film festivals on the way.
Speaking in Tokyo, Academy CEO Bill Kramer said the Oscars are preparing to widen the festival pathway that can land a movie directly in contention for the Best International Feature Film category. He shared the update during a sit-down with Deadline while in town to accept an honorary leadership award alongside Lynette Howell Taylor and Meredith Shea as part of the Academy in Tokyo engagement series.
“Our plan is to expand the number of festivals,” Kramer said.
How films qualify now
Under rules adopted in May, the winner of the top prize at a select group of six festivals automatically qualifies for International Feature consideration, in addition to the usual country submissions. Those festivals are:
- Berlin
- Busan
- Cannes
- Sundance
- Toronto
- Venice
Kramer noted that limiting the inaugural list to six was a deliberate safeguard to keep the evaluation process independent and unbiased as the Academy tested the new route into the race.
He also framed the planned expansion as part of the organization’s broader push to welcome a wider range of global voices. That includes earlier provisions allowing displaced or refugee filmmakers to submit through the selection boards of their host countries.
The festival-winner pathway was added to the International Feature rulebook in May.