Austria selects ‘Rose’ for Best International Feature Oscar race

Austria has officially selected the black-and-white period drama ‘Rose’ as its submission for the Best International Feature category at the 99th Academy Awards. Directed by Markus Schleinzer, the film stars Sandra Hüller, who recently won the Silver Bear for Best Lead Performance at the Berlin Film Festival for her role.

Set in 17th-century rural Germany during the Thirty Years’ War, the film follows a woman who disguises herself as a male farmer to secure a life of independence and self-determination. The character is a fictionalized composite based on historical accounts of women in that era.

Sandra Hüller, a prominent figure in recent award seasons, previously received an Oscar nomination for ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ and starred in the Oscar-winning ‘The Zone of Interest’. The Academy is expected to announce the shortlist for the Best International Feature category on December 15, with final nominations following on January 21, 2027.