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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

#41

Chilemonos International Animation Festival

#42

CINANIMA – International Animated Film Festival of Espinho

CINANIMA – International Animated Film Festival of Espinho is one of the oldest and most prestigious animation festivals in the world.

#43

Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival

The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival is the largest global film festival dedicated to short films.

#45

Cleveland International Film Festival

The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), founded in 1977, is one of the largest and most prominent film festivals in the United States.

#46

Cork International Film Festival

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 Festiva

CPH:DOX – Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival is one of the world’s premier festivals dedicated to documentary filmmaking.

#48

Curtas Vila do Conde – International Film Festival

Curtas Vila do Conde is a renowned international film festival dedicated to short films, held annually in Vila do Conde, Portugal.

#49

Dallas International Film Festival

The Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual celebration of global cinema held in Dallas, Texas.

#50

deadCENTER Film Festival

The deadCENTER Film Festival is a celebrated annual event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, dedicated to independent cinema.

#51

DMZ International Documentary Film Festival

The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival (DMZ Docs), established in 2009, is an annual event held in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

#52

Doc Edge Festival

Doc Edge, also known as the Documentary Edge Festival, is New Zealand’s premier documentary film festival.

#53

DOC NYC Film Festival

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 International Documentary Film Festival

Docaviv is Israel’s premier documentary film festival, held annually in Tel Aviv since its establishment in 1998.

#55

Doclisboa International Film Festival

Doclisboa is an internationally renowned documentary film festival held annually in Lisbon, Portugal.

#56

Docville International Documentary Film Festival

Docville is a renowned annual documentary film festival held in Leuven, Belgium.

#57

Drama International Short Film Festival

The Drama International Short Film Festival is one of Greece’s most prestigious platforms for short films.

#58

Durban International Film Festival

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is Africa’s longest-running and one of its largest film festivals.

#59

Edmonton International Film Festival

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 International Film Festival

EnergaCamerimage is a prestigious international film festival that celebrates the art and craft of cinematography.

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2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List Top Entries

#141

St. Louis International Film Festival

The St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF), founded in 1992, is an annual celebration of cinema held in St. Louis, Missouri.

#142

San Francisco International Film Festival

San Francisco International Film Festival The San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF), established in 1957, is the longest-running film festival in the Americas, renowned for celebrating cinematic excellence and diverse storytelling.

#143

San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF), founded in 1980, is the world's oldest and largest Jewish film festival, dedicated to celebrating the richness of Jewish life, culture, and identity through cinema.

#144

San Jose International Short Film Festival

The San Jose International Short Film Festival (SJSFF) was founded in 2009 by two Silicon Valley businessmen passionate about filmmaking and the arts.

#145

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLOIFF), founded in 1993 by attorney Mary A. Harris, is a highly regarded annual event held in San Luis Obispo, California.

#146

Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), established in 1986, is an 11-day annual event showcasing over 200 films, honoring cinematic excellence, and celebrating diverse storytelling.

#147

Santa Fe International Film Festival

The Santa Fe International Film Festival (SFiFF), founded in 2009, is a distinguished annual event held in the artistic hub of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

#148

Sarajevo Film Festival

The Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), founded in 1995 during the siege of Sarajevo, has emerged as Southeast Europe’s leading film festival and a significant cultural event globally.

#149

Seattle International Film Festival

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), founded in 1976, is one of the largest and most renowned film festivals in the world.

#150

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival

The Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival (SDFF), founded in 2007, has grown from its regional roots in Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area to become a globally recognized event.

#151

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia

The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), founded in 1999 by Japanese actor Tetsuya Bessho, is one of Asia's largest and most prestigious short film festivals.

#152

Show Me Shorts Film Festival

Show Me Shorts is Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier international short film festival, established in 2006.

#153

SIGGRAPH

SIGGRAPH, founded in 1974 and organized by ACM SIGGRAPH, is the preeminent annual conference dedicated to computer graphics and interactive techniques.

#154

Singapore International Film Festival

The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), founded in 1987 by Geoffrey Malone and L. Leland Whitney, is Singapore's longest-running film event.

#155

Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia

The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, founded in 1968 as the "1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies," is one of the world’s most renowned film festivals dedicated to fantasy, horror, science fiction, and thriller genres.

#156

Slamdance Film Festival

The Slamdance Film Festival, founded in 1995, runs concurrently with the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and is renowned for its commitment to showcasing independent films by emerging filmmakers.

#157

South by Southwest (SXSW)

South by Southwest (SXSW), established in 1987, is an iconic festival blending film, music, and interactive media, renowned for spotlighting innovation and emerging talent in Austin, Texas.

#158

SPARK ANIMATION

SPARK ANIMATION, founded in 2008, is Western Canada's leading animation festival, celebrating the art and innovation of animated storytelling.

#159

Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film

The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), founded in 1982, is a globally renowned event celebrating the art and craft of animation.

#160

Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival, established in 1978, is America’s holy grail of independent film festivals, showcasing groundbreaking films and launching the careers of prominent filmmakers worldwide.

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2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List

2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List Top Entries

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