2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List

Here is the Qualifying Film Festival List for the upcoming Academy Awards.

2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List Top Entries

#42
CINANIMA – International Animated Film Festival of Espinho is one of the oldest and most prestigious animation festivals in the world.
#44
The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival is the largest global film festival dedicated to short films.
#45
The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), founded in 1977, is one of the largest and most prominent film festivals in the United States.
#46
The Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) is Ireland’s oldest and one of its most prestigious film festivals, established in 1956.
#47
CPH:DOX – Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival is one of the world’s premier festivals dedicated to documentary filmmaking.
#48
Curtas Vila do Conde is a renowned international film festival dedicated to short films, held annually in Vila do Conde, Portugal.
#49
The Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual celebration of global cinema held in Dallas, Texas.
#50
The deadCENTER Film Festival is a celebrated annual event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, dedicated to independent cinema.
#51
The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival (DMZ Docs), established in 2009, is an annual event held in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
#52
Doc Edge, also known as the Documentary Edge Festival, is New Zealand’s premier documentary film festival.
#53
DOC NYC, established in 2010, is the largest documentary festival in the U.S., showcasing over 300 films annually and serving as a critical platform for nonfiction storytelling.
#54
Docaviv is Israel’s premier documentary film festival, held annually in Tel Aviv since its establishment in 1998.
#55
Doclisboa is an internationally renowned documentary film festival held annually in Lisbon, Portugal.
#56
Docville is a renowned annual documentary film festival held in Leuven, Belgium.
#57
The Drama International Short Film Festival is one of Greece’s most prestigious platforms for short films.
#58
The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is Africa’s longest-running and one of its largest film festivals.
#59
The Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF) is a celebrated annual event showcasing innovative independent and international films, offering a platform for emerging and diverse voices in cinema.
#60
EnergaCamerimage is a prestigious international film festival that celebrates the art and craft of cinematography.

2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List Top Entries

#1
The Goya Awards, established in 1987, are Spain's foremost national film honors, celebrating excellence in acting, directing, screenwriting, and more across the Spanish film industry.
#2
The Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, is a prestigious institution responsible for promoting French cinema and recognizing its achievements.
#4
The Alcalá de Henares Film Festival (ALCINE) is a celebrated short film competition, held annually in November in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid.
#5
The Alexandria Short Film Festival is an international Oscar-qualifying event held annually in Alexandria, Egypt.
#6
The American Documentary and Animation Film Festival (AmDocs) is an annual celebration of documentary films and independent filmmaking.
#7
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF), originally launched as the Acapulco Black Film Festival, is an influential independent film festival dedicated to celebrating Black filmmakers and cinema.
#8
Anifilm is an International Festival of Animated Films that has been held annually in the Czech Republic since 2010.
#9
Anima, the Brussels Animation Film Festival, provides a platform for both established and emerging animators to showcase their creativity to an international audience.
#10
Animation Dingle was founded as a collaboration between Maurice Galway and John Rice, stemming from an initial film festival event in Dingle, Ireland.
#11
Animator International Animated Film Festival is an annual celebration of animated films held in Poznań, Poland. Established in 2008, it is the country’s largest festival dedicated solely to animation.
#12
Animayo is a globally renowned festival dedicated to animation, visual effects, and video games, fostering creativity, innovation, and emerging talent since its establishment in 2006.
#13
Animest International Animation Film Festival is Romania’s premier animation event and the country’s only Oscar-qualifying festival.
#14
The Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF), founded in 1963, is the oldest experimental and avant-garde film festival in North America.
#15
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival, established in 1960, is one of the oldest and most renowned festivals dedicated to celebrating animated works worldwide.
#16
Aspen Shortsfest is an internationally acclaimed film festival dedicated to celebrating short films from around the globe.
#17
The Athens International Film and Video Festival (AIFVF) has been a platform for independent cinema for over 50 years, bringing experimental, animated, narrative, and documentary films from around the world to Athens, Ohio.
#18
The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF), established in 1976, is one of the largest and longest-running film festivals in the United States.
#19
The Austin Film Festival (AFF), established in 1994, is an annual event renowned for its focus on storytelling in film and television.
#20
The Bali International Film Festival (Balinale) is an annual event that has become a prominent fixture in the Asian film industry since its establishment in 2007.

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