Following the recent successes of Cypriot cinema and its international recognition at major film festivals abroad, as well as the wishes of film professionals, the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture announces the launch of the selection process for the Cypriot entry in the Best International Feature Film categoryat the 99th Academy Awards ceremony of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

National Selection Committee

To select the Cypriot entry for the 2027 Oscars, the Deputy Ministry of Culture has established a National Selection Committee, which consists of ex officio and ad hoc members directly involved in the film industry, with at least half of the members being professionals from the film industry. The composition of the Committee, which has been approved by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is as follows:

Ex officio members – film professionals

1. Haris Zambarloukos, Director of Photography (Nominated for the British Independent Film Awards and the American Society of Cinematographers Awards for the film “Belfast” (2021))
2. Kyros Papavasiliou, Director – Producer (Best Cypriot Film and Best Director at the Cyprus Film Days 2024 International Film Festival)
3. Yianna Amerikanou, Director (Best Cypriot Film and Best Director at the Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2022)  
4. Stelana Kliris, President of the Cyprus Directors’ Guild, Director, Producer, Screenwriter (“Find Me Falling” (2024)).

Institutional Members

• Elena Christodoulidou, Senior Cultural Officer – Department of Contemporary Culture (Committee Chair)
• Lefteris Eleftheriou, Chair of the Cyprus Audiovisual Committee
• Marios Psaras, Cultural Officer – Department of Contemporary Culture

Eligibility

In accordance with the Academy’s Regulations, submissions must meet all of the following criteria:

1. It must be a feature-length film (over 40 minutes in duration).

2. It must be a Cypriot production or, in the case of an international co-production, Cyprus must be the country with the largest share in the production (majority country).

3. The film’s dialogue must be primarily (>50%) in a language or languages other than English. The submitted film must have English subtitles.

4. The film must have been publicly screened for commercial purposes in a commercial movie theater for at least seven consecutive days during the period between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.

Submission

Nominations must be submitted to the Film Office of the Department of Contemporary Culture, which is responsible for handling all procedures related to the national nomination. Submission of entries is free of charge. 

Films must be submitted by the lead producer via email ([email protected]) with the subject line “Cyprus – Oscar Nomination,” by July 10, 2026.

Required materials for film submission: 

1. A secure, password-protected link to view the film. Do not include a trailer or other unrelated material. Embedded subtitles must be included (accurate and legible English subtitles).

2. A copy of the complete opening and closing credits (the full opening and closing credits of the film as they appear on screen; in English).

3. The director’s biography (in English).

4.    Published advertisements confirming the film’s seven-day theatrical run or a contract with a theater owner if the screening dates fall after the submission deadline(the seven-day screening must be completed by September 30, 2026).

5. Photograph of the director [1080 W × 1920 H (portrait) or 1920 W × 1080 H (landscape)].

Selection Criteria and Process

The National Committee reviews and evaluates applications deemed eligible during a joint meeting, based on the following criteria:

i. The originality of the film’s concept and development, its aesthetic, the dramatic and narrative strength of the screenplay, the well-developed characters, and the overall artistic and technical excellence of the production.

ii. The nominee’s participation in film festivals and/or the awards it has won.

iii. The commercial success of the nominated film and its broader acceptance by the public.

iv. The critical reception of the nominated film.

v. The previous work of the director/producer/screenwriter.

Following the conclusion of the joint meeting, the members of the selection committee cast their votes by secret ballot. Once the Cypriot nomination is selected by the National Committee, the Film Office submits the film to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

A special committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences then reviews the complete application package, approves Cyprus’s nomination and forwards it to the Academy members for voting. Following approval by the Academy, the Department of Contemporary Culture announces the Cypriot nomination to the media and the public.