🎬 Lights, Camera, Southeast Asia: The Region’s Bid for Oscar Glory ✨🌏
From Thailand’s "A Useful Ghost" to Indonesia’s "Sore", the region steps into Hollywood’s global spotlight
The Main Takeaway 🎯
Southeast Asia is stepping into the global spotlight at the 98th Academy Awards (2026 Oscars) 🎥🌏 — with multiple films from across the region competing in the Best International Feature Film category.
From Thailand’s A Useful Ghost to Singapore’s Stranger Eyes, the region’s filmmakers are crafting deeply local stories with universal resonance — a clear signal of Southeast Asia’s rising cinematic power on the world stage. ✨🎬
Why It’s on Our Radar 🔎
🎬 Record-breaking representation: Southeast Asia is seeing an unprecedented wave of quality submissions to the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film race.
🌏 Cultural reflection: These films capture the region’s evolving identity — exploring history, spirituality, memory, and modern transformation.
📽️ Global recognition: Screenings and awards at Busan, Locarno, and Venice have boosted visibility for Southeast Asian filmmakers, showing that the region’s stories resonate far beyond its borders. ✨
What’s at Stake ⚖️
🏆 Global recognition: An Oscar nomination — or even a shortlist spot — would cement Southeast Asia’s place in world cinema, signaling that its stories can stand beside global heavyweights.
💵 Industry growth: Awards buzz fuels funding, co-productions, and streaming deals, creating a ripple effect for local studios, filmmakers, and creative economies.
🎭 Cultural pride: Representation on Hollywood’s biggest stage amplifies national identity and regional confidence, giving Southeast Asia a stronger collective voice in global storytelling. 🌏✨
The Big Picture 📸
🎥 While no Southeast Asian country has yet taken home the Best International Feature Film Oscar, this year’s lineup shows unprecedented ambition and diversity. 🌏✨
From arthouse dramas to historical narratives, the region’s submissions prove that Southeast Asia is no longer a cinematic “periphery” — it’s a creative powerhouse finding its global voice. 🎬🌟
Who’s in the Running (2026 Submissions) 🎞️
🇰🇭 Cambodia
Tenement — Directed by Inrasothythep Neth & Sokyou Chea, which dates back to the Khmer Rouge era.
It follows a Cambodian-Japanese manga artist who returns home after her mother’s death and becomes trapped in a series of terrifying visions.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Sore: Wife from the Future — Directed by Fajar Nugros, this genre-bending romance follows a man whose life is changed when a woman claiming to be his future wife appears from another timeline.
A bold mix of science fiction and heartfelt drama that breaks new ground for Indonesian cinema ⏳💞.
🇵🇭 The Philippines
Magellan — Directed by Lav Diaz, a historical epic charting colonial legacy and national identity📜.
The film was chosen from seven contenders; criteria included aesthetic & technical excellence, Filipino cultural values, international appeal, and capability for a strong Oscars campaign.
Lav Diaz remarked that the film is “a reminder to look back at the past so our nation can move forward.”
🇸🇬 Singapore
Stranger Eyes — Written and directed by Yeo Siew Hua.
The movie explores themes of surveillance, grief, and identity, centered around a couple whose toddler disappears — a psychological thriller rooted in emotion and modern society.
🇹🇭 Thailand
A Useful Ghost — Directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, eerie yet emotional exploration of loss and memory.
The narrative is a supernatural dark comedy: a man mourning his wife, who returns as a ghost possessing a vacuum cleaner, and tries to become a “useful ghost” amidst the aftermath of a factory worker’s death.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Red Rain — Directed by Dang Thai Huyen, the film is set during the 1972 Battle of Quang Tri, when the Liberation Army of South Vietnam fought to reclaim the ancient citadel.
Written by veteran novelist Chu Lai, who fought directly on the southern battlefield.
Why This Hits Home ❤️
🎬 Southeast Asia’s Oscar contenders are more than films — they’re cultural time capsules.
They capture stories of migration, faith, trauma, and resilience that define a region of 680 million people.
🌏 For local filmmakers, each submission is not just a competition entry, but a declaration: We belong on the world stage. 🌟🎞️
The Regional Stakes🌐
🎥 Builds Southeast Asia’s collective identity in global cinema.
🌍 Strengthens film diplomacy and cross-border collaborations.
💡 Positions the region as an emerging hub for international co-productions and streaming partnerships.
Beyond the Headlines📰
📅 Oscar Shortlist: December 16, 2025 → Final Nominations: January 22, 2026.
🏆 98th Academy Awards Ceremony: March 8, 2026.
🎬 Regional standouts: A Useful Ghost, Stranger Eyes, Magellan, Red Rain.
🎟️ Recent milestones: Philippines and Thailand films gaining festival traction in Venice and Busan.
🌏 Broader trend: Southeast Asian storytelling breaking linguistic and cultural barriers to reach global audiences.
Need More Angles:
Asia One Singapore selects film Stranger Eyes to enter 2026 Oscar race
CNN Indonesia Selain Indonesia, Ini Negara Asia yang Sudah Ajukan Film ke Oscar 2026
Deadline Oscars 2026 International Feature Film Submissions By Country
Screen Daily Oscars best international feature 2026: all the films submitted so far
Vietnam VN Revealing the 2026 Oscar candidates
(CCL/ZIL/QOB)