The Academy has released its eligibility rosters for the 98th Oscars, setting the field for three categories that often signal where global and nonfiction cinema is heading. This year’s lists include 201 documentary features, 86 international features, and 35 animated features that meet baseline rules for 2025 releases, with some titles still needing to complete their required qualifying runs before voting begins.
In animated feature, the slate mixes major studio sequels with indie and international work, and it again reflects how streaming titles can enter the race if they secure the mandated theatrical play. Recent breakout “KPop Demon Hunters” is eligible after a three-city U.S. run, joining franchise entries like “Zootopia 2” and family titles such as “Elio,” plus a heavy presence of Japanese anime. Members of the Animation Branch vote automatically, while other Academy members may opt in only after meeting viewing thresholds, a rule intended to keep the ballot tied to audience exposure rather than brand awareness.
The international feature list is shaped by country submissions, with 92 entries received and 86 accepted as eligible. The roster includes a mix of Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and local box-office leaders, and several nations are on the roster for the first time in years. One widely watched entrant is France’s “It Was Just an Accident,” an Iranian-made drama selected under updated rules that allow films by refugee or asylum-seeking filmmakers to be represented by another country. Supporters say the change broadens access for artists working under repression; critics of the country-submission system argue that national committees can still filter out dissenting voices.
Documentary feature remains the most crowded category, with 201 eligible films spanning festival winners and late-year theatrical qualifiers. As in past years, the Documentary Branch will narrow the field to a 15-title shortlist before final nominations, a process designed to manage scale while keeping room for smaller releases that break through on merit.
Key dates are now locked: preliminary voting for these categories runs December 8–12, shortlists arrive December 16, nominations follow January 22, and the ceremony is set for March 15, 2026.
