Germany has selected Mascha Schilinski’s feature film, “In Die Sonne Schauen” (Looking at the Sun), as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. The decision followed a review of five submitted films by an independent jury held in Munich on August 20th and 21st, as announced by German Films, the organization responsible for coordinating the selection process.
The film interweaves the lives of four women – Alma (1910s), Erika (1940s), Angelika (1980s) and Nelly (2020s) – each experiencing childhood or youth on a remote farmstead in the Altmark region. A recurring tragic event on the farm blurs the boundaries between past and present timelines within the narrative.
The jury commended the film for its “formal uncompromising nature, existential emotional depth and artistic uniqueness”. They praised its depiction of four women fighting against confinement, violence and societal constraints over a century, describing it as a work of “rare urgency, masterfully directed, poetic, universal and courageous”. The jury further noted the film offers a “physical experience that resonates and sears itself into memory.
Director Mascha Schilinski expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent Germany at the Oscars. “The film’s journey so far, with the Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and now representing Germany at the Oscars, demonstrates the importance of believing in one’s artistic vision” she stated. Producers Maren Schmitt, Lucas Schmidt and Lasse Scharpen described the selection as a “special honour” highlighting that films directed by women remain significantly underrepresented in the 98-year history of the Academy Awards.
The Academy is scheduled to publish a full list of submissions in the Best International Feature Film category in early November, with 85 countries submitting films last year. A shortlist of 15 titles will be announced on December 16th, 2025, followed by the unveiling of the five nominees on January 22nd, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is slated to take place on March 15th, 2026.
