The Academy has released its shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards, narrowing hundreds of eligible films down to contenders across 12 categories that remain in contention before final nominations are announced.
© GettyWhat is a shortlist?
A shortlist is essentially the last big filter before nomination voting begins. These films are still in the race, but only a handful from each category will ultimately make it to the final ballot in January.
From prestige dramas to blockbuster franchises, the shortlists give an early look at what’s resonating with voters before nominations are locked in next month.
Who votes for them?
Oscar shortlists are voted on by members of each specific branch before the entire Academy even sees them. For example, animators vote on Animated Shorts, cinematographers on Cinematography. Some categories, like International Feature Film, invite all branches to participate.
Once the shortlists are published, members who opt in and watch all the candidates can participate in the next round of voting.
What’s next:
Nominations voting runs January 12–16, 2026, with official nominations announced January 22. The 98th Oscars air live on March 15, 2026, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Here are the categories - and the films that have made the cut
Animated short film (15 films advanced from 113 eligible titles)
- Autokar
- Butterfly
- Cardboard
- Éiru
- Forevergreen
- The Girl Who Cried Pearls
- Hurikán
- I Died in Irpin
- The Night Boots
- Playing God
- The Quinta's Ghost
- Retirement Plan
- The Shyness of Trees
- Snow Bear
- The Three Sisters
Casting (10 films selected by the Casting Directors Branch)
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle after Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Sirât
- Weapons
- Wicked: For Good
© NetflixCinematography (16 films advanced)
- Ballad of a Small Player
- Bugonia
- Die My Love
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- Nouvelle Vague
- One Battle after Another
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Sirât
- Song Sung Blue
- Sound of Falling
- Train Dreams
- Wicked: For Good
Documentary feature film (15 films advanced from 201 eligible titles)
- The Alabama Solution
- Apocalypse in the Tropics
- Coexistence, My Ass!
- Come See Me in the Good Light
- Cover-Up
- Cutting through Rocks
- Folktales
- Holding Liat
- Mr. Nobody against Putin
- Mistress Dispeller
- My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow
- The Perfect Neighbor
- Seeds
- 2000 Meters to Andriivka
- Yanuni
Documentary short film (15 films advanced)
- All the Empty Rooms
- All the Walls Came Down
- Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
- Bad Hostage
- Cashing Out
- Chasing Time
- Children No More: “Were and Are Gone”
- Classroom 4
- The Devil Is Busy
- Heartbeat
- Last Days on Lake Trinity
- On Healing Land, Birds Perch
- Perfectly a Strangeness
- Rovina’s Choice
- We Were the Scenery
International feature film (15 films advanced from submissions by 86 countries)
- Argentina — Belén
- Brazil — The Secret Agent
- France — It Was Just an Accident
- Germany — Sound of Falling
- India — Homebound
- Iraq — The President’s Cake
- Japan — Kokuho
- Jordan — All That’s Left of You
- Norway — Sentimental Value
- Palestine — Palestine 36
- South Korea — No Other Choice
- Spain — Sirât
- Switzerland — Late Shift
- Taiwan — Left-Handed Girl
- Tunisia — The Voice of Hind Rajab
Live action short film (15 films advanced from 207 eligible titles)
- Ado
- Amarela
- Beyond Silence
- The Boy with White Skin
- Butcher’s Stain
- Butterfly on a Wheel
- Dad’s Not Home
- Extremist
- A Friend of Dorothy
- Jane Austen’s Period Drama
- Pantyhose
- The Pearl Comb
- Rock, Paper, Scissors
- The Singers
- Two People Exchanging Saliva
Makeup and hairstyling (10 films advanced)
- The Alto Knights
- Frankenstein
- Kokuho
- Marty Supreme
- Nuremberg
- One Battle after Another
- Sinners
- The Smashing Machine
- The Ugly Stepsister
- Wicked: For Good
© Universal PicturesMusic (original score) (20 scores advanced)
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Bugonia
- Captain America: Brave New World
- Diane Warren: Relentless
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Hedda
- A House of Dynamite
- Jay Kelly
- Marty Supreme
- Nuremberg
- One Battle after Another
- Sinners
- Sirât
- Train Dreams
- Tron: Ares
- Truth and Treason
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
- Wicked: For Good
Music (original song) (15 songs advanced)
- “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” — Tron: Ares
- “Dear Me” — Diane Warren: Relentless
- “Dream As One” — Avatar: Fire and Ash
- “Drive” — F1
- “Dying To Live” — Billy Idol Should Be Dead
- “The Girl In The Bubble” — Wicked: For Good
- “Golden” — KPop Demon Hunters
- “Highest 2 Lowest” — Highest 2 Lowest
- “I Lied To You” — Sinners
- “Last Time (I Seen The Sun)” — Sinners
- “No Place Like Home” — Wicked: For Good
- “Our Love” — The Ballad of Wallis Island
- “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” — Come See Me in the Good Light
- “Sweet Dreams Of Joy” — Viva Verdi!
- “Train Dreams” — Train Dreams
Sound (10 films advanced)
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
- One Battle after Another
- Sinners
- Sirât
- Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowher
- Superman
- Wicked: For Good
© Warner BrosVisual effects (10 films advanced)
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- The Electric State
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Jurassic World Rebirth
- The Lost Bus
- Sinners
- Superman
- Tron: Ares
- Wicked: For Good
