Academy Reveals Oscar Shortlists with New Casting Category

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the shortlists for its 98th awards cycle, which includes 12 categories. This year marks the introduction of a new casting category, alongside established categories such as international feature film and documentary feature.

Key Highlights of the Oscar Shortlists

• The casting category features ten films, including Frankenstein and Wicked: For Good.
• International feature film contenders include Iraq’s historical entry, The President’s Cake.
• A total of 201 documentaries qualified, with fifteen titles selected for nomination.

New Casting Oscar Recognition

This year, the Academy is recognizing talent through its inaugural casting Oscar. The shortlisted films are:

• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another
• The Secret Agent
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners
• Sirât
• Weapons
• Wicked: For Good

Voting for the casting category will occur after viewings of excerpts from the shortlisted films and recorded interviews with casting directors.

International Feature Films

This year’s international feature film category saw entries from 86 countries. The shortlist includes:

• Belén (Argentina)
• The Secret Agent (Brazil)
• It Was Just An Accident (France)
• The President’s Cake (Iraq)
• Sentimental Value (Norway)

Documentary Feature Films

From 201 eligible documentaries, the Academy selected the following fifteen:

• The Alabama Solution
• Cover-Up
• The Perfect Neighbor
• My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air In Moscow
• 2000 Meters To Andriivka

Cinematography and Other Categories

The cinematography shortlist includes titles like F1, Hamnet, and Wicked: For Good. Each category is carefully curated to spotlight outstanding cinematic achievements.

As for the animated short films, members will review 15 shortlisted films out of the 113 that were qualified. Voting for nominations is a collaborative effort that requires participation from various branches within the Academy.

Upcoming Dates

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is set to announce nominations on January 22, 2026, with the ceremony scheduled for March 15, 2026. Members will need to view all shortlisted films to vote effectively.

This year’s awards cycle represents a significant step forward in acknowledging diverse talent across the globe, particularly with the unveiling of the new casting category and a robust selection of international films. Fans and industry professionals alike are eager to see how the nominations will unfold.