Sundance 2026: Oscar Buzz Fizzles?

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival proved a notable launchpad for Oscar contenders, with all five Best Documentary Feature nominees premiering there. Narrative features also saw success, earning nominations for Best Actress and Best Picture. In contrast, the films selected for the 2026 festival seem more modest in their Oscar aspirations.

While films like "Josephine," winner of the Audience and Grand Jury Prize, are anticipated to secure distribution, others such as "Union County" and "If I Go Will They Miss Me" are more likely to garner attention at events like the Gothams or Indie Spirit Awards. International entries, including Montenegro's "To Hold a Mountain," are strategically campaigning for the International Feature Film Oscar. Nevertheless, a select few Sundance entries may still find their way into Oscar nomination categories by the new year.