Switzerland has selected Petra Volpe’s hospital-set drama Late Shift (German title: Heldin) as its official submission for the 98th Academy Awards’ international feature category, citing the film’s strong festival reception and theatrical momentum. The selection was announced August 12 by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture with campaign support from Swiss Films.
The story follows Floria, a surgical nurse navigating an understaffed ward through a tense overnight shift, a premise the film’s backers say speaks to real-world pressure on healthcare systems. Late Shift premiered as a Berlinale Special Gala in February and has since tallied more than 650,000 admissions across German-speaking territories.
Leonie Benesch headlines as Floria, with cinematography by Judith Kaufmann, who recently received the German Camera Award for her work on the film. After its world premiere, the feature expanded theatrically across Europe and is rolling out to additional markets: the U.K. and Ireland release began in early August, Italy opens August 20, and France and Spain are planned for autumn. International sales are handled by TrustNordisk, which has placed the title in over 50 countries, reflecting growing interest in contemporary nurse-centered narratives.
The film’s North American footprint is set following a deal with Music Box Films, positioning a U.S. release to dovetail with awards season. Trade coverage notes that Switzerland’s pick arrives as several European academies finalize their entries ahead of the submission deadline, placing Late Shift among the year’s early contenders after a busy festival circuit.
Switzerland’s submission continues an awards strategy that previously included Volpe’s The Divine Order, which represented the country in 2017. Swiss Films outlined the next milestones: the Academy’s 15-title international feature shortlist arrives December 16, 2025, nominations are set for January 22, 2026, and the Oscars ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026.
