Oscars 2027, South Korea bets on Lee Chang-dong

The list of national submissions ahead of the 99th Academy Awards is growing wider in the category dedicated to Best International Feature Film. The Korean Film Council has selected “Possible Love”, directed by Lee Chang-dong, as South Korea’s official submission, betting on one of the most recognized directors of contemporary South Korean cinema.

A significant development comes from Pakistan, which has chosen the documentary thriller “Hanging by a Wire”, directed by Mohammed Ali Naqvi, as its submission: it is the first time a documentary has represented the country in this category, a shift that marks a change in approach compared to previous years’ selections.

A structural change introduced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also sets this year’s race apart from previous ones: it is no longer mandatory for a film submitted for Best International Feature Film to be put forward by a country through the usual national selection mechanism. A film shot in a language other than English can now also qualify by winning a qualifying award at a recognized international festival, opening the category to paths different from the traditional one of governmental or national-body selection.

The time criteria, however, remain unchanged: eligible films must have been released in theaters in their respective countries between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026, a date that also coincides with the deadline set for submitting entries. The ceremony for the 99th Academy Awards will take place on March 14, 2027 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Not all countries have made up their minds: France, for instance, has yet to decide whether to submit “Minotaur”, directed by exiled director Andrey Zvyagintsev, or to opt for a domestically produced film. A choice that, in light of the Academy’s new rules, carries less weight than it did in the past, but which nonetheless remains an indicator of each country’s cultural and political priorities in the Oscar race.

Between South Korea’s submission of an established author like Lee Chang-dong and Pakistan’s, the first for a documentary, the race for Best International Feature Film 2027 already shows, in its national selections, a broader geography than usual.