The great season of Italian cinema is already looking toward Hollywood. Exactly 21 films are in the running to represent Italy in the International Feature Film category at the 99th edition of the Academy Awards, with the ceremony set to take place in Los Angeles on March 14, 2027. The competition features a diverse mix of stories, major directors, and debut works that hit sets between October 2025 and September 2026.
Among the standout titles is Succederà questa notte by Nanni Moretti, starring Jasmine Trinca and Luis Garrell. The selection also embraces genre cinema with Paolo Strippoli’s horror film L'Estranea, starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Adriano Giannini, alongside auteur biographies like Monica Guerritore’s Anna, a moving tribute to the legendary Anna Magnani. The list is further enriched by works from leading directors such as Gabriele Muccino (Le cose non dette), Riccardo Milani (La vita va così), and Marco Bechis (Ritorno a Buenos Aires).
The task of choosing the official contender falls to the Selection Committee established at ANICA, which will meet on September 23, 2026, for the decisive vote. Afterward, the Academy will announce the shortlist on December 15, while the official nominations unveiling the finalists will follow on January 21, 2027. For Italian cinema, this marks the first step on a journey aimed at winning back international critical acclaim.