France has selected Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Cannes Grand Prize winner “Minotaur” to represent the country in the international feature film race at the Oscars.
The choice was made Wednesday by France’s Oscar committee following auditions with the producers, international sales agents and U.S. distributors behind the five shortlisted films, including Mubi, Neon and Sony Pictures Classics.
“Minotaur” prevailed in a particularly eclectic and wide-open field that also included Antonin Baudry’s two-part historical epic “De Gaulle,” Arthur Harari’s “The Unknown,” Marine Atlan’s “La Gradiva” and Louis Clichy’s animated feature “Iron Boy.”
The selection of “Minotaur” reflects France’s growing role as a production and financing hub for filmmakers from outside the country. Last year, France submitted Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident,” which had won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and went on to secure an Oscar nomination.
A dissident Russian filmmaker who lives in exile in France, Zvyagintsev made his Russian-language drama with France’s Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinéma and MK Productions. A portrait of corruption in contemporary Russia, “Minotaur” is represented internationally by MK2 Films, while Mubi has acquired North America and several other territories.
“In what promises to be a highly competitive field, this selection underscores both France’s unique role in major global co-productions and our country’s commitment to supporting the great filmmakers of our time, while maximizing our chances of winning the Oscar for Best International Feature Film,” said Gaetan Bruel, the president of the National Film Board (CNC).
“It all starts now. The CNC and Unifrance, determined to ensure that France shines once again this year at this major international film event, will strongly support not only the French nominee but also all French films nominated in any Oscar category, as part of a renewed strategy. The goal is to win,” he continued.
The CNC has also tapped veteran international film strategist Sébastien Cauchon as its Academy Awards referent, a newly created role that will see him help spearhead the campaign for the French submission throughout awards season.
His appointment comes as France continues its push to translate the international strength of its cinema into Oscar success.
The country has not won the international feature prize since Régis Wargnier’s “Indochine” took the honor in 1993, despite remaining one of the category’s most consistently represented nations.
Cauchon, who recently founded the Paris-based consultancy Cinema Collectors, served as awards strategist on Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh’s “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” which won the Academy Award for best live action short film in 2026. It was France’s sole Oscar win that year.
Cauchon is currently working as a consultant and international publicist on Florian Zeller’s “Bunker,” a psychological thriller starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem which opened at Venice and played at Toronto. He previously worked on Zeller’s feature debut “The Father” which won two Oscars, including best actor for Anthony Hopkins. He also worked on Mubi’s campaign for Coralie Fargeat’ “The Substance.”
This year’s French Oscar committee was presided over by Charles Tesson and included Coralie Fargeat, Emilie Lesclaux, Sophie Mas, Grégory Chambet, Nadim Cheikhrouha, Thierry de Clermont-Tonnerre, Ron Dyens, Nicolas Eschbach, Adeline Monzier and Sylvie Pialat.
The 2027 race also marks the first year under new Academy rules allowing non-English-language films that win the top prize at one of six designated international festivals — Berlin, Busan, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and Venice — to enter the international feature race without being their country’s official submission.
The Academy is set to unveil its 15-film international feature shortlist on Dec. 15, with nominations announced Jan. 21. The 99th Academy Awards will take place March 14, 2027.
Leave a Reply