The Academy has unveiled its list of eligible films for the 97th Oscars in the animated, documentary, and international feature categories, spotlighting various blockbusters and critically lauded works. Submissions span major studios and independent filmmakers alike, and the competition promises to be one of the most competitive as films seek nominations.
A total of 31 animated feature films are in contention this year, including DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot,” IFC Films’ “Memoir of a Snail,” and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” which recently became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time. While this year’s number is slightly down from 33 submissions in 2023, it marks an increase from the 27 entries in 2022, reflecting a robust year for animation. Among the list also is Janus Film and Sideshow’s “Flow,” which will also compete in the international feature race for Latvia.
Nominees in the Animated Feature category are determined by the Academy’s Animation Branch members, with additional input from Academy members outside the branch who opt-in and meet specific viewing requirements. Notably, films in this category may also qualify for other Oscars, including best picture, if they meet the necessary eligibility and release criteria. Animated features submitted as their country’s official selection for International Feature consideration are also eligible in this category, ensuring a broader pool of contenders.
In the documentary feature category, 169 films are eligible, a slight increase from 167 in 2023. Among the standout contenders are Josh Greenbaum’s road trip comedy “Will & Harper,” starring Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, Angela Patton and Natalie Rae’s poignant family drama “Daughters,” and Mati Diop’s “Dahomey,” which doubles as Senegal’s official submission for international feature.
Documentary features must either win a qualifying festival award or meet the Academy’s theatrical release standards to qualify. Films in the documentary category can also compete for other Oscars, including best picture, if they meet additional requirements.
Read: You can see all Academy Award predictions in all 23 categories on one page on the Variety Awards Circuit: Oscars.
This year, 85 countries have submitted films for the international feature race, a slight dip from 88 in 2023 and 92 in 2022. Recent winners include the U.K.’s “The Zone of Interest” and Germany’s “All Quiet on the Western Front. ” Both garnered critical acclaim and were nominated in the best picture category.
Leading the early contenders’ list for 2024 are Brazil’s “I’m Still Here,” France’s “Emilia Pérez” and Germany’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig.” Additional entries generating buzz include Ireland’s “Kneecap,” Mexico’s “Sujo,” and Portugal’s “Grand Tour.” As in previous years, Academy members from all branches may participate in the preliminary voting for this category, provided they meet minimum viewing requirements. The 15-film international and documentary feature shortlists will be announced on Dec. 17, 2024.
The 97th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, and Conan O’Brien will host the ceremony.
The complete list is below.
“Flow” (Courtesy of Janus Films/Sideshow)
Animated Feature
“Art College 1994”
“Captain Avispa”
“Chicken for Linda!”
“The Colors Within”
“The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie”
“Despicable Me 4”
“Flow”
“The Garfield Movie”
“Ghost Cat Anzu”
“The Glassworker”
“The Imaginary”
“Inside Out 2”
“Kensuke’s Kingdom”
“Kung Fu Panda 4”
“Living Large”
“Look Back”
“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”
“Mars Express”
“Memoir of a Snail”
“Moana 2”
“Piece by Piece”
“Rocket Club: Across the Cosmos”
“Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds”
“Spellbound”
“Sultana’s Dream”
“That Christmas”
“Thelma the Unicorn”
“Transformers One”
“Ultraman: Rising”
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”
“The Wild Robot”
‘Dahomey’
© Les Films du Bal – Fanta Sy
Documentary Feature
I’m Still Here
TIFF
International Feature
Albania, “Waterdrop”
Algeria, “Algiers”
Argentina, “Kill the Jockey”
Armenia, “Yasha and Leonid Brezhnev”
Austria, “The Devil’s Bath”
Bangladesh, “The Wrestler”
Belgium, “Julie Keeps Quiet”
Bolivia, “Own Hand”
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “My Late Summer”
Brazil, “I’m Still Here”
Bulgaria, “Triumph”
Cambodia, “Meeting with Pol Pot”
Cameroon, “Kismet”
Canada, “Universal Language”
Chile, “In Her Place”
Colombia, “La Suprema”
Costa Rica, “Memories of a Burning Body”
Croatia, “Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day”
Czech Republic, “Waves”
Denmark, “The Girl with the Needle”
Dominican Republic, “Aire Just Breathe”
Ecuador, “Behind the Mist”
Egypt, “Flight 404”
Estonia, “8 Views of Lake Biwa”
Finland, “Family Time”
France, “Emilia Pérez”
Georgia, “The Antique”
Germany, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”
Greece, “Murderess”
Guatemala, “Rita”
Hong Kong, “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”
Hungary, “Semmelweis”
Iceland, “Touch”
India, “Lost Ladies”
Indonesia, “Women from Rote Island”
Iran, “In the Arms of the Tree”
Iraq, “Baghdad Messi”
Ireland, “Kneecap”
Israel, “Come Closer”
Italy, “Vermiglio”
Japan, “Cloud”
Kazakhstan, “Bauryna Salu”
Kenya, “Nawi”
Kyrgyzstan, “Paradise at Mother’s Feet”
Latvia, “Flow”
Lebanon, “Arzé”
Lithuania, “Drowning Dry”
Malaysia, “Abang Adik”
Malta, “Castillo”
Mexico, “Sujo”
Mongolia, “If Only I Could Hibernate”
Montenegro, “Supermarket”
Morocco, “Everybody Loves Touda”
Nepal, “Shambhala”
Netherlands, “Memory Lane”
Nigeria, “Mai Martaba”
Norway, “Armand”
Pakistan, “The Glassworker”
Palestine, “From Ground Zero”
Panama, “Wake Up Mom”
Paraguay, “The Last Ones”
Peru, “Yana-Wara”
Philippines, “And So It Begins”
Poland, “Under the Volcano”
Portugal, “Grand Tour”
Romania, “Three Kilometres to the End of the World”
Senegal, “Dahomey”
Serbia, “Russian Consul”
Singapore, “La Luna”
Slovakia, “The Hungarian Dressmaker”
Slovenia, “Family Therapy”
South Africa, “Old Righteous Blues”
South Korea, “12.12: The Day”
Spain, “Saturn Return”
Sweden, “The Last Journey”
Switzerland, “Queens”
Taiwan, “Old Fox”
Tajikistan, “Melody”
Thailand, “How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies”
Tunisia, “Take My Breath”
Turkey, “Life”
Ukraine, “La Palisiada”
United Kingdom, “Santosh”
Venezuela, “Back to Life”
Vietnam, “Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano”
