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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

#61

FESPACO – Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou

The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) is Africa’s largest and most prestigious film festival.

#62

Fest Anča International Animation Festival

Fest Anča is an internationally acclaimed animation festival held annually in Trenčín, Slovakia.

#63

Festival du Nouveau Cinéma

The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (FNC) is an annual film festival held in Montreal, Canada, known for its dedication to innovative and experimental cinema.

#64

Fantaspoa International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre

Fantaspoa, the International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre, is the first Brazilian film festival dedicated to fantastic cinema, encompassing genres such as horror, science fiction, and fantasy.

#65

Festival Internacional de Cine de Lebu

The Festival Internacional de Cine de Lebu (CINELEBU) is a prestigious annual film festival held in the coastal city of Lebu, in Chile’s Biobío Region.

#66

FICX – Gijón International Film Festival

The Gijón International Film Festival (FICX) is one of Spain's oldest and most respected film festivals, held annually in Gijón, Asturias.

#67

Flickerfest

Flickerfest is Australia’s leading international short film festival, celebrating innovative storytelling and showcasing award-winning short films from around the globe.

#68

Florida Film Festival

The Florida Film Festival is a prestigious annual event held in Orlando and Maitland, Florida, showcasing a diverse selection of independent films from around the world.

#69

Foyle Film Festival

The Foyle Film Festival, founded in 1987, is one of the leading film festivals in the UK and Ireland.

#70

Friss Hús Budapest International Short Film Festival

The Friss Hús Budapest International Short Film Festival is a prominent annual event dedicated to the art of short filmmaking, held in Budapest, Hungary.

#71

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is a premier event celebrating the art of documentary filmmaking, showcasing impactful and thought-provoking works from around the world.

#72

Galway Film Fleadh

The Galway Film Fleadh is Ireland’s leading film festival, held annually in the vibrant city of Galway.

#73

German Film Award

The German Film Award, also known as the Deutscher Filmpreis or "Lola," is one of the most prestigious accolades in the German film industry.

#74

Go Short International Short Film Festival Nijmegen

Go Short - International Short Film Festival Nijmegen is the premier short film festival in the Netherlands, held annually in the historic city of Nijmegen.

#75

Göteborg Film Festival

The Göteborg Film Festival (GFF) is Sweden’s largest and most prestigious film festival, held annually in Gothenburg.

#76

Guadalajara International Film Festival

The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) is one of Latin America’s most prestigious and influential film festivals.

#77

Guanajuato International Film Festival

The Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF) is one of Mexico’s premier film festivals, held annually in Guanajuato City.

#78

Haifa International Film Festival

The Haifa International Film Festival is Israel's first international film festival, celebrating global and Israeli cinema with a vibrant programme of screenings, workshops, and industry events.

#79

Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF)

The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) is a premier cultural event in the Pacific, celebrating global cinema with a unique focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

#80

Hamptons International Film Festival

The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is one of the premier film events in the United States, taking place annually in October with additional year-round programming in New York City and the Hamptons.

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2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List

2026 Academy Awards Qualifying Film Festival List Top Entries

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