National Film Institute forms committee for Hungarian Oscar selection

The National Film Institute, in collaboration with Filmreform 2026, has convened a committee to select Hungary's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.

Over the coming weeks, the committee will review Hungarian films that meet the Academy's eligibility requirements. To qualify, a feature-length film must have completed at least seven consecutive days of commercial theatrical release in its home country between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.

The selection committee includes cinematographer Mátyás Erdély, screenwriter-director Gyula Gazdag, film historian and critic Gábor Gelencsér, director Ágnes Kocsis, producer Sára László, and festival director Kristóf Horváth, who represents younger filmmakers. The National Film Institute expects to announce the official selection in early September.

Being selected as the national entry does not guarantee an Oscar nomination. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will select the final nominees from the pool of international entries in January, with the winners being determined by a vote of the Academy's full membership. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 2027.