On 11-07-2025, the decision No. 303859/02.07.2025 of the Deputy Minister of Culture was published, titled: “Representation of Greece in the procedures for the OSCAR Award for Best International Feature Film” (Government Gazette B’ 3615). With this decision, the previously effective decision of the Minister of Culture and Tourism No. YPΠOT/DOEPY/TOPYNS/53689/01.06.2012, titled: “Representation of Greece in the OSCAR Award procedures” (Government Gazette B’ 1829), was abolished. The main changes introduced by the new decision to the aforementioned procedure consist of increasing the members of the advisory Committee from 7 to 11 and the method of their appointment, as now the members are appointed following recommendations from film organizations to the Ministry of Culture.

Pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 1 of the above-mentioned decision, the Directorate of Performing Arts and Cinema of the Ministry of Culture issues an invitation to interested parties to participate in the selection process of the film with which Greece will be represented at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars) of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, competing for the International Feature Film Award (formerly known as the Best Foreign Language Film Award). The invitation is addressed to Greek filmmakers who meet the eligibility requirements as specified in the regulations of this year’s Oscars, particularly the criteria outlined in Rule 16 (RULE SIXTEEN SPECIAL RULES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM AWARD) under the sections I. DEFINITION and II. ELIGIBILITY. The rules of the 98th Oscars are available at the following web address:

https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility 

The selection process

The procedure for the selection of the cinematographic work proposed by Greece as a candidate for the OSCAR International Feature Film Award is defined in article 1 of the decision of the Deputy Minister of Culture No. 303859/02.07.2025 (Government Gazette B’ 3615), which was issued under the authority of article 35 of Law No. 3905/2010.

The Ministry of Culture has the exclusive competence to conduct the selection process and to submit to the American Film Academy the Greek film project proposed by our country as a candidate for the OSCAR Award for International Feature Film. In this context, producers interested in participating in the process must submit their film’s nomination directly to the Ministry of Culture, in order to be evaluated by the Committee established for this purpose. The Committee then gives its opinion to the competent Deputy Minister, who adopts the final decision.

It is clarified that any proposals from third parties do not produce any consequences or constitute a commitment on the part of the Commission of the Ministry of Culture.

Eligibility conditions

The eligibility requirements for the OSCAR International Feature Film Award in accordance with the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Rule 16 are summarised below:

International is defined as a feature film (longer than 40 minutes) whose production takes place outside the United States of America and the language of the dialogue is predominantly (i.e., more than 50%) other than English. Animated films as well as documentary films are eligible.

The submitted feature film must have been released for the first time no earlier than October 1, 2024 and no later than September 30, 2025. In addition, the initial screening must take place outside the U.S. in a commercial theater where paid admission is permitted for at least seven consecutive days.

The motion picture must be advertised and promoted during its above-mentioned release in a manner considered normal in feature film distribution practices. Distribution of the film in the United States is not required.

Films which, in any version, are screened or distributed outside of a commercial theater prior to their first theatrical screening or distribution will not be eligible for the Academy Award.

The following are examples of the types of noncommercial theatrical exhibition or distribution that make a film ineligible: broadband and cable television, pay-per-view or video-on-demand services, DVD distribution, streaming distribution, airline distribution for in-flight exhibition, webcasting.

The language of the original dialogue of the cinematographic work must be predominantly (i.e. more than 50 %) different from English. Accurate, legible subtitles in English are required.

The creative control of the film submitted should be certified to be largely in the hands of the citizens, residents or persons granted refugee or asylum status of the submitting country.

The Executive Committee of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the International Feature Film Award is responsible for resolving all issues related to eligibility and regulations.

A nomination for the OSCAR International Feature Film Award does not preclude the nomination of the same film for awards in other categories of the 98th edition, provided that the requirements of those categories are met.

Submitting the documents

In order for the participation of a film in the selection process of the Greek nomination for the OSCAR International Feature Film Award to be complete and valid, the following must be submitted to the Ministry of Culture:

1. Producer’s application with original signature, which includes the exact title of the film, its duration (definitely over 40 minutes), its genre (fiction, documentary, animated film), as well as details of the cast and crew.
2. Certificate of Greek Citizenship (issued, upon request, by the Hellenic Centre for Audiovisual and Creative Cinematography – EKKOMED).
3. Documents proving that the first, official release of the film took place for seven consecutive days in a ticketed commercial cinema.

Interested parties are invited to send an e-mail to the e-mail address of the Department of Cinematography and A/V Media of the Directorate of Performing Arts and Cinematography of the Ministry of Culture: [email protected], from 16 July to Monday, 28 July 2025.

For any further information, interested parties may contact Mrs. Lisa Linardou tel. 210 3239680.