Arab cinema has secured a strong presence in this year’s Academy Awards race, with four Arab films officially shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The films are among 15 titles selected from 86 submissions worldwide for the 98th Academy Awards, marking one of the most visible moments for Arab filmmaking on the global stage in recent years.

The shortlisted Arab films are “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, “What’s Left of You” by American Jordanian Palestinian filmmaker Cherien Dabis, “Palestine 36” by Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir, and “The President’s Cake” by Iraqi director Hasan Hadi. The selection places Arab cinema alongside entries from Europe, Asia, and South America, underscoring its growing international recognition.

Ben Hania’s inclusion carries particular weight. It is the third time in five years that one of her films has entered the Oscars race, following The Man Who Sold His Skin and Four Daughters. Reacting to the announcement, the Tunisian filmmaker expressed gratitude and pride, describing the moment as a powerful continuation of a journey built on persistence and belief in storytelling from the region.

The four films reflect a wide range of narratives and cinematic approaches. The Voice of Hind Rajab centers on a deeply personal and political human story, while Palestine 36 offers a historical, epic treatment of the Arab Revolt period in the 1930s. What’s Left of You traces a multigenerational Palestinian family drama spanning decades of displacement and memory, and The President’s Cake presents a human-centered Iraqi story shaped by political and social transformation.

Beyond the international feature category, the Academy also announced shortlists this week in several other fields, including documentary features and shorts, animated short films, music, sound, visual effects, cinematography, and makeup and hairstyling, highlighting a broader global competition across disciplines.

The final list of nominees will be revealed on January 22, ahead of the Academy Awards ceremony on March 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. Whether or not the films make it to the final nominations, their presence on the shortlist signals a continued shift in the Academy’s global outlook and a growing space for Arab stories, voices, and filmmakers within the world’s most visible cinematic platform.