Oh, it's heavy! - Six Nordic Oscar contenders for 2026

Turning 70 next year, the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film has lost no attraction. Increasingly fine-tuned eligibility rules allow for multiple options, admitting fictional and documentary works in any language (or none at all) as well as choice of country of origin in this age of international co-production. The 2026 line-up counts submissions from selection bodies in 86 world-wide territories for review, possible shortlisting (15 titles), nomination (five titles), and finally a singular win.

Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Greenland have all submitted works, shared between eight directors – Cannes-awarded as well as accidental ones – covering (almost) four continents and nine languages. Four of them display distinctly domestic national settings, one plays out in North Africa’s bustling Cairo, and one in the barren borderlands of Ural, in Karabash, Russia.

The last-named location is the battle field of Denmark’s decidedly dark horse entry: Mr Nobody Against Putin. Co-directed by American David Borenstein and Russian Pavel Talankin, the Danish connection stems from Borenstein being based in Denmark, which, via Helle Faber’s Made in Copenhagen, is the main producer of this highly confrontational documentary.

“Now I’m a filmmaker!” exclaims Talankin 30 minutes into the film, as his Instagram post about current Russian states after the invasion of Ukraine has been spotted by Borenstein, who suggests a collaboration. This young teacher at a smalltown elementary school regularly films various faculty events, providing him with the perfect “Mr Nobody” guise when it comes to immortalising the pro-Putin propaganda machine, marinating the premise in militarised nationalism.

“The film was made under incredibly challenging circumstances,” says Borenstein, currently on a promotional road trip with Talankin (now in exile). “Simply making it through to the other side already felt like a dream.”

“To now have Denmark stand behind the film as its International Feature candidate is something we never expected, and it gives this story a chance to be heard in places we never imagined reaching.”

Far away from his maternal Stockholm home base, but diving deeply into his paternal roots of Egypt, Tarik Saleh concludes his thriller-themed “Cairo Trilogy” with Eagles of the Republic, set in the film industry and markedly politically charged. It’s Saleh’s second submission after the Cannes-awarded and shortlisted Boy from Heaven (Walad min al-Janna, 2022), both entirely in Arabic, with no Swedish reference to be traced.

“I’m proud of your choice,” the director addressed the Swedish selection committee upon hearing the news. “The fact that you regard this film as Swedish makes Sweden all the bigger. It sends a clear, hopeful message: We have more in common with each other than what separates us. Cinema can do that.”

Snippets of Danish and a good chunk of Swedish can be heard in Norway’s submission, the latter through Stellan Skarsgård, whose performance as the estranged father of Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value (Affeksjonsverdi) has its own Oscar buzz. Joachim Trier’s tender family drama met love at first sight and the Grand Prix at this years’ Cannes. Just having received eight Golden Globe nominations, it feels like a likely contender for any shortlist ahead.

Tender family drama is also at the heart of Hlynur Pálmason’s The Love That Remains (Ástin sem eftir er), Iceland’s submission and another 2025 Cannes-player. A newly separated couple, played by Saga Garðarsdóttir and Sverrir Gudnason, and their three kids, played by the director’s own offspring, get a personal chronicle, spanning a year, and featuring Iceland itself as a prominent and at times supernatural character.

100 Litres of Gold (100 litraa sahtia) constitutes a family affair of limited tenderness. Finland’s alcohol-soaked entry is served with burlesque bite by Teemu Nikki. Two sisters a fair bit past their prime – Elina Knihtilä and Pirjo Lonka savour the scenery as they make their sahti, an immensely Finnish brand of farmhouse ale – get into a fair bit of a pickle when a third sister orders 100 litres of said beverage for her wedding. Alas, the sisters already drank it.

“It’s a personal film, shot in the village where I grew up, and full of stories I heard there,” says Nikki, somewhat taken aback by the selection committee’s choice, yet willing to pick up any forthcoming accolade. With 2020’s Another Round (Druk) in vivid memory, stranger things have happened.

“My siblings were involved in making the film, and sahti has always been made in my family. Despite its local nature, or perhaps because of it, the film has been well received all over the world. Maybe the saying ‘local is global’ is true,” said the director, who previously scored a submission with Euthanizer (Armomurhaaja, 2017).

WALLS - Akinni Inuk is the third Greenlandic submission historically, entirely produced by Ánorâk Film. In the ten-year process of making this multi-layered documentary on Greenland’s prison system, initially devised by director Sofie Rørdam, a co-director, Nina Paninnguaq Skydsbjerg, was eventually added. She became instrumental both on and off screen. At the very centre is Ruth, whose journey through the correctional system is at the core of the story.

“With all the recent focus on Greenland, the selection felt particularly crucial this year - It is about more than just our film. It’s a manifestation of how Greenland has its own authentic voice in the international world of cinema - as well as in politics,” says Rørdam, 70 years after the very first nomination was announced for what was then called Best Foreign Language Film.

That very nomination went to the Danish Qivitoq (1956), also set in Greenland. It lost to La Strada (1954), while Sweden's The Virgin Spring (Jungfrukällan, 1960) became the first Nordic win, accepted by US distributor Cyrus Harvey. Next year Sweden won again, with Harriet Andersson in town to pick up the award for Through a Glass Darkly (Såsom i en spegel, 1961).

The opening of her acceptance speech has stood the test of time:

“Oh, it's heavy!”

The 2026 shortlist is announced December 16, the nominees January 22, with the ceremony playing out March 15.

Mr Nobody Against Putin, Eagles of the Republic, Sentimental Value and The Love That Remains are supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond.