Belgium has put its horse in the Oscar race, picking Lukas Dhont’s queer WWI drama Coward as its official selection for Best International Feature Film for the 99th Academy Awards.
The film, set in the Belgian trenches of the First World War, follows the love between two young soldiers who try, through art and intimacy, to escape the horrors around them. Pierre (Emmanuel Macchia) is a young Belgian soldier struggling to go on, who finds hope, and eventually romance, with the flamboyant Francis (Valentin Campagne), who entertains the troops with his gender-bending theatrical performances and impromptu song and dance numbers.
Coward premiered in competition in Cannes, where it won best acting honors for Macchia and Campagne.
Dhont’s 2022 feature Close was Oscar-nominated in the best international feature category. His new feature reunites the Belgian director with collaborators from Close and his 2018 debut Girl, including Close co-writer Angelo Tijssens, and his producer brother Michiel Dhont.
Mubi picked up Coward for North America as well as multiple international territories, including the U.K., Germany, Italy and Australia/New Zealand. Coward will release in U.S. and Canadian theaters on December 25th. The Match Factory is handling international sales. Mubi handled the release of Close in multiple international territories, including the U.K., Ireland, Latin America, Turkey, and India.
AMPAS will announce the 15 films on the Best International Feature Film shortlist on Dec. 15. The five nominees will be announced on Jan. 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 14, 2027.
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