Sanatorium: Ireland's Submission for the 2026 Oscars International Feature Film Category
The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) has chosen Sanatorium, a film created by Irish filmmakers in the Ukrainian language, as its submission for the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars. The film is set at a wellness center in southern Ukraine near the war frontlines and has been praised for its unique and humorous storytelling.
Irish films have seen success in the international category at the Oscars in recent years, with nominations for An Cailín Ciúin in 2023 and a shortlisting for the Kneecap film in 2025. The International Feature Film category at the Oscars is dedicated to films produced in languages other than English, with each country allowed to submit one film for consideration.
Sanatorium offers a vivid and cinematic portrayal of a community seeking love, healing, and happiness within the confines of a wellness center near Odesa in southern Ukraine. The film features colorful characters, including staff and visitors looking for a moment of restoration amidst the ongoing war, with unique treatments like a mysterious black mud believed to cure various ailments.
Directed by Galway-born filmmaker Gar O’Rourke and produced by Venom Films, the movie was supported by Screen Ireland, BBC Storyville, MetFilm Sales, France TV, and Creative Europe. The film, edited by John Murphy and with Denys Melnyk as director of photography, premiered in Copenhagen and is set to be screened in Irish cinemas in September.
In conclusion, Sanatorium represents Ireland's entry for the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars, showcasing a compelling narrative set in a wellness center in Ukraine and highlighting the country's diverse and talented filmmaking industry.