The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' recent Oscar nominations demonstrated significant international inclusion, matching previous records for non-English language films and setting new precedents for acting categories.
Non-English language feature films collectively received 22 nominations, tying records set in 2023 and 2024. These nominations were distributed among titles such as Sentimental Value (nine), The Secret Agent (four), It Was Just an Accident (two), Sirāt (two), Arco (one), Cutting Through Rocks (one), Kokuho (one), Little Amelie or the Character of Rain (one), and Mr. Nobody Against Putin (one).
For the second time, and following 2024, at least one non-English language film was represented in every Oscar category. Two non-English films, The Secret Agent and Sentimental Value, were nominated for Best Picture, tying a 2025 record. This marks the eighth consecutive year that the top category includes at least one non-English film.
Of the 20 available acting nomination slots, an unprecedented four, or 20 percent, were awarded to non-English language performances. These include Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent, and Rentate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value. Skarsgård's nomination is noted as the first non-English language performance ever nominated in the supporting actor category.
The increased internationalization of the Academy's membership is attributed as a factor for this trend. Over the past decade, the organization has diversified its ranks, with 25 percent of its current members hailing from outside the United States, many of whom are accustomed to subtitled films.
This shift in Academy preferences raises questions about the predictive accuracy of Oscar precursor awards. Guild honors (SAG-AFTRA, DGA, PGA), whose members are predominantly U.S.-based, showed minimal non-English language representation in their film categories. BAFTA Awards, while primarily U.K.-based, employ a different weighting system for diversity, making direct comparisons difficult. Critics Choice and Golden Globe awards, composed of journalists, also have limited demographic overlap with the Academy.
This year, the Golden Globes are considered to have had some influence on the Oscar nominations, with their awards for Skarsgard, Moura, and Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) preceding their respective Oscar nominations. However, current precursor groups may not have sufficient demographic alignment with the Academy to consistently serve as reliable Oscar predictors.