98th Oscars: Full List of Animated, Documentary and International Feature Films Released
The list for the Animated, Documentary, and International Feature categories for eligibility in the 98th Oscar was released by the Academy. Some of these films are yet to complete their qualifying releases before the end of this year.
Animated Feature
An aspiring 35 films are included in the Animated Feature category this year. Members of the Animation Branch of the Academy will vote from these films to choose the five top nominees. Other members can also vote by meeting the minimum viewing requirement.
The list includes major studio films such as “Zootopia 2” and “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” along with a number of international and indie animations.
Documentary Feature Category
The Documentary Feature category has the most eligible films with 201. First, members of the Documentary Branch will choose a shortlist of 15 titles, which will then be announced on December 16.
The top five official nominations will then be selected from that list of 15, making this arguably the most competitive category every year.
International Features Category
This category has increased its eligibility up to 86 entries from countries around the world. Academy rules stipulate that international features are films produced mostly in a language other than English and made outside the United States.
Members of all branches are eligible to vote in an early round by meeting the minimum viewing requirement. The shortlist of 15 films in this category will be announced on December 16th. This list, which touches on the masters of several other countries, contains contributions from India (“Homebound”), Japan (“Kokuho”), France (“It Was Just an Accident”), and other eminent films.
Importance of the Three Categories
Every time these three categories of awards are given at the Oscars, the award ceremony is spotlighted because they represent a showing of global and diverse storytelling styles. Animation represents the newest technology and art. A documentary sheds light on social realities; an international feature brings the distinct culture and stories they embody into the venue.
Oscar Rules and Next Steps
All films must comply with their eligibility requirements by the end of the year. Following the shortlist announcement, the final five nominations will be released in January, and the awards ceremony will take place in March.
Conclusion
This shortlist for the 98th Oscars highlights how filmmakers around the world have created extraordinary work this year, exploring diverse themes, new technologies, and different artistic approaches. In the coming weeks, the shortlist and then the final nominations will be revealed, adding to the anticipation of who will walk away with the world’s most sought-after film award.
