DUBAI: The Academy Awards international feature film shortlist has been announced, with four films from the Middle East selected among the 15 titles announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The shortlisted films from the region include Iraq’s “The President’s Cake,” directed by Hasan Hadi; Tunisia’s Gaza-set “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Kaouther Ben Hania; Palestine’s “Palestine 36,” Annemarie Jacir’s sweeping historical epic set during the Arab revolt of the 1930s; and Jordan’s “All That’s Left of You,” an intergenerational family drama by Cherien Dabis.

The titles appear alongside a diverse international selection, including Argentina’s “Belen,” Brazil’s “The Secret Agent,” France’s “It Was Just an Accident,” Germany’s “Sound of Falling,” India’s “Homebound,” Japan’s “Kokuho,” Norway’s “Sentimental Value,” South Korea’s “No Other Choice,” Spain’s “Sirat,” Switzerland’s “Late Shift” and Taiwan’s “Left-Handed Girl.”

“Sirat,” directed by Oliver Laxe, was filmed in Morocco and stars Algerian-Turkish actress Jade Oukid. Meanwhile, “It Was Just an Accident” was directed by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

Final nominations will be announced in January, with the 98th Academy Awards set to be held on March 15, 2026.

“The Voice of Hind Rajab,” “Palestine 36,” and “All That’s Left of You” also screened at December’s Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia.