Four Arab Films Make it to Oscars 2026 Shortlist

Four Arab films have been selected for the Oscars 2026 international feature film shortlist, marking a significant moment for Middle Eastern cinema on the global stage.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a total of 15 shortlisted titles, with films from Iraq, Tunisia, Palestine and Jordan among those in contention.

The shortlisted films from the region include Iraq’s The President’s Cake, directed by Hasan Hadi; Tunisia’s Gaza-set The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania; Palestine’s Palestine 36, a sweeping historical epic set during the Arab revolt of the 1930s directed by Annemarie Jacir; and Jordan’s All That’s Left of You, an intergenerational family drama by Cherien Dabis.

These films appear alongside a diverse international lineup that includes Argentina’s Belen, Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Germany’s Sound of Falling, India’s Homebound, Japan’s Kokuho, Norway’s Sentimental Value, South Korea’s No Other Choice, Spain’s Sirat, Switzerland’s Late Shift and Taiwan’s Left-Handed Girl.

Notably, Sirat, directed by Oliver Laxe, was filmed in Morocco and stars Algerian-Turkish actress Jade Oukid, while It Was Just an Accident was directed by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

Three of the Arab shortlisted films—The Voice of Hind Rajab, Palestine 36, and All That’s Left of You—also screened at December’s Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, further highlighting the region’s growing presence at major international film platforms.

Final nominations will be announced in January, with the 98th Academy Awards ceremony scheduled to take place on March 15, 2026.

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