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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

#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 Top Entries

ACADEMIA DE LAS ARTES Y LAS CIENCIAS CINEMATOGRÁFICAS DE ESPAÑA [GOYA AWARDS]

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.

Académie Des César [French Academy Of Cinema]

The Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, is a prestigious institution responsible for promoting French cinema and recognizing its achievements.

AFI FEST (American Film Institute)

ALCINE – Festival de Cine de Alcalá de Henares

The Alcalá de Henares Film Festival (ALCINE) is a celebrated short film competition, held annually in November in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid.

Alexandria Short Film Festival

The Alexandria Short Film Festival is an international Oscar-qualifying event held annually in Alexandria, Egypt.

AMDOCS – American Documentary and Animation Film Festival

The American Documentary and Animation Film Festival (AmDocs) is an annual celebration of documentary films and independent filmmaking.

American Black Film Festival

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.

Anifilm

Anifilm is an International Festival of Animated Films that has been held annually in the Czech Republic since 2010.

Anima – The Brussels Animation Film Festival https://animafestival.be/en

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

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

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 International Film Festival

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

Animest International Animation Film Festival is Romania’s premier animation event and the country’s only Oscar-qualifying festival.

#14

Ann Arbor Film Festival

The Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF), founded in 1963, is the oldest experimental and avant-garde film festival in North America.

#15

Annecy International Animation Film Festival

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

Aspen Shortsfest is an internationally acclaimed film festival dedicated to celebrating short films from around the globe.

#17

Athens International Film and Video Festival

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

Atlanta Film Festival

The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF), established in 1976, is one of the largest and longest-running film festivals in the United States.

#19

Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF), established in 1994, is an annual event renowned for its focus on storytelling in film and television.

#20

Bali International Film Festival

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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2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List

2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List Top Entries

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