14 Latin American films, including one Colombian, will compete for a 2026 Oscar nomination.
The race towards the 2026 Oscar Awards it has already started and Latin America once again has a prominent presence. The Hollywood Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences admitted 14 Latin American films to compete in the category of best international filmamong which is a Colombian production.
During this week the preliminary list of 15 films who will advance to the next phase of the selection process. From this group will come the films that will finally compete for one of the most important nominations in world cinema.
One of the admitted productions is set in 1977, during the Brazilian military dictatorship of Ernesto Geisel. The story follows Marcelo, a professor who flees from a troubled past and returns to Recife in the hope of rebuilding his life and reuniting with his son. However, he soon discovers that the city is not the refuge he imagined and that government forces chase him.
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The Latin American films admitted to the Oscar 2026
Chile: The mysterious look of flamenco
The story focuses on a man who, after an accident, begins to remember episodes from his childhood linked to his mother. The film moves between fantasy and reality, exploring human fragility and the need to understand the past.
Another Chilean production presents a dramatic black and white portrait with elements of satire. It tells the life of Socorro, a woman whose existence changes after the death of her brother in the social movements of 1968, addressing topics such as forgiveness, memory and justice in a context of political unrest.
Argentina: Bethlehem
It tells the struggle of Julieta, a young woman from Tucuman arrested after suffering a spontaneous abortion, and her lawyer Soledad Deza. Together they face an unfair judicial system as the case becomes a symbol of the fight for reproductive rights.
Panama: Dear Tropic
Set in Panama City, the film tells the relationship between two women from opposite worlds: an immigrant caregiver with secrets and a wealthy woman facing dementia. Their bond challenges prejudices and social expectations.
Peru: Kinra
Atoqcha, a young Andean man, moves between life in Cusco and his homeland while trying to build his future. The story exposes the conflict between modernity and ancestral identity in an intimate story about roots and belonging.
Dominican Republic: Pepe
Told from the perspective of the ghost of a hippopotamus murdered in the Colombian jungle, the film mixes humor and reflection to explore myths, memory and human stories through an original and provocative metaphor.
Uruguay: Hold me tight
After the death of her best friend, Adela relives the memories of a weekend shared on the beach. The film is an emotional journey that addresses friendship, grief and the passage of time.
Venezuela: Ali Primera
Biography of the iconic Venezuelan singer-songwriter and activist Alí Primera, which traces his life, his struggles and the impact of his music as a voice of the people and a cultural and political symbol.
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Costa Rica: The Monaguillo, The Priest, The Gardener
Documentary that collects the testimony of two men who denounce abuses committed by a priest, combining memory, justice and the collective search for truth in a community marked by silence.
Ecuador: Chuzalongo
In an Andean community affected by poverty and abandonment, the appearance of a mythical figure triggers tensions and silences. The film mixes horror and social drama to reflect on violence and marginality.
Bolivia: The House of the South
A woman returns to an old family home after years of absence and faces memories, tensions and unresolved wounds. The film offers an intimate narrative about memory and the weight of the past.
The Colombian bet: A Poet
The representation of Colombia arrives with A Poeta tragicomedy that follows the life of Óscar Restrepo, an aging, erratic poet from Antioquia trapped in the bohemian cliché. His life takes a turn when he meets Yurlady, a talented young woman whom he decides to help, illuminating her days marked by artistic failure and leading him to reflect on his legacy and the meaning of his existence.
Latin American cinema stands out in the race towards the 2026 Oscar Awards
The road to the Oscar Awards 2026 advances and latin american cinema reaffirms its narrative, aesthetic and thematic diversity. Films from the region present stories that explore memory, identity, justice and resistanceseeking not only a nomination, but also to consolidate the presence of Latin America in the international film scene.
With proposals that combine drama, documentary and fictionLatin American filmmakers stand out for their ability to tell unique stories that reflect the cultural and social wealth of their countries, projecting their artistic vision and commitment to relevant themes to the world.
