The Uganda Academy Selection Committee (UASC) Founded by a Ugandan filmmaker Kizito Samuel Saviour through Film Club Uganda , and approved by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ International Feature Film Award Executive Board, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills California 90211, on 20th May 2019 comprises of notable Ugandan film directors, producers, writers, distributors and exhibitors among others, and operates as a non-government entity. It is currently headquartered at the Uganda National Cultural Centre – National Theatre in Kampala, Uganda.

The UASC is tasked on behalf of the Academy Awards (Oscars) to represent Uganda and select Ugandan films for the Official Entry for the Academy Award in the category of Best International Feature Film Award Category (formerly known as Best Foreign Language Film Category).

The UASC is to select Ugandan Official Entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film each year, however submission is not bound to Best International Feature Film category if meets with the eligibility requirements of Academy’s rules, it is permissible for every competitive award.

Awards & Prizes

The selected film will be sent to represent Uganda at the 98th Academy Awards (The Oscars), 15 March 2026.

Rules & Terms

Read through the submission rules and selection criteria in here:

https://www.oscars.org/sites/oscars/files/2025-04/98th_aa_international_feature.pdf

The Uganda Academy Selection Committee - UASC
CALL FOR UGANDAN ENTRIES
For Best International Feature Film Award at the 2026 Academy Awards

Kampala - 11 September 2025

The Uganda Academy Selection Committee (UASC) is inviting Ugandan filmmakers to submit their feature films for consideration for the 98th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

The UASC is Uganda's official Oscar awards selection committee. It was approved by the Academy awards organisers in 2019, and as such is mandated to select one Ugandan film every year to represent the country in the international feature film category at the prestigious awards.

In order for a film to qualify for entry in the international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony due for March 2026, it must have been produced outside of the Unites States of America and should have a predominantly non-English dialogue track. Films hoping to compete in this category must also have had at least a seven-day consecutive theatrical run in their countries of origin between 01 Oct 2024 - 30 Sep, 2025.

The full eligibility criteria for the Best International Feature Film category can be found here: https://www.oscars.org/sites/oscars/files/2025-04/98th_aa_international_feature.pdf

How to Submit

Ugandan filmmakers whose films meet the Oscars selection criteria for the Best International Feature Film category are encouraged to;

1. Either, digitally submit their entries via our FilmFreeway submission portal for the UASC at https://filmfreeway.com/uasc not later than 24 Sept 2025.

2. Or, physically submit three copies of their films (preferably on flash drives) at the UASC offices at National Theatre in Kampala not later than 24 Sept 2025.

Once at our offices, you will be given a brief form to fill out as confirmation of your submission.

The Committee will thoroughly review all submissions in line with Academy rules and announce the selected film on 29 Sept 2025.

For more information on how to submit your film please call the UASC coordinator on 0701299900 or email filmclubofuganda@gmail.com

Committee’s process for reviewing and selecting films:

Although the criteria for selection are fundamentally decided by members of the selection committee, we investigate if computation can characterise the selection process by utilising available rules and regulations plus any guidelines provided by the Academy.

Selections are made by watching films and the associated information, including textual, numerical, or categorical data.

Results of the analysis reveal factors that may affect the outcome of the selection.

Committee’s method for finding films:

The committee puts out or publicizes for the “CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS” via www.filmfreeway.com/uasc through various media channels to all Ugandan filmmakers and Ugandan made films that are eligible for the Best International Feature Film Submission basing on the Academy Rules, however, the committee members will also scout for films that they deem fit and eligible for the submission criteria.

Submission Fee?
All submissions to the committee for consideration of the Best International Feature Film Category Submission are free of charge to enable all filmmakers to participate.

How are films selected:

The committee accepts full length films from Uganda that are eligible for the Best Feature Film submission, about 15 films are selected for judgement regardless of the number of applications.

Each committee member watches every film at a designated commercial theatre/ cinema;

In the first step, each member watches the films from beginning to end without fast-forwarding and evaluates them in three grades with comments.

Secondly, based on the evaluation, the committee selects the representing film after discussions and consultations.

About 10 selection advisers support the selection committee but do not participate in the evaluation and selection.