From January into the fall, film festival competitions often offer a glimpse into which movies are sparking with audiences and which could escape the fest bubbles and make a run at Oscars.
This year had a wide variety of winners beginning at the Sundance Film Festival and running all the way up to TIFF in September. Where are they now in terms of the awards conversation? And have any of them retained enough heat to make an impact next year at the Oscars?
Here’s a look back at 2026’s big film festival winners.
Sundance — Josephine
Beth de Araújo’s harrowing U.S. Competition winner from the last Sundance held in Park City is not set for theatrical release until the end of November. If it hopes to convert the festival win into a meaningful Best Picture run, the film will have to recapture some enthusiasm. Josephine is currently ranked 26th in Gold Derby’s combined odds, but it’s in good company, sandwiched between Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care and David Fincher’s The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.
Berlin — Yellow Letters
Germany may have opted to submit this year’s Un Certain Regard winner Everytime as its official entry for Best International Film, but because of rule changes in the category, Yellow Letters is still eligible. The film from director İlker Çatak tells a story of artists facing political persecution in Turkey.
Cannes — Fjord
The latest from two-time Palme d’Or winner Cristian Mungiu was already in the running for Best International Feature before Romania decided to double down and pick Fjord as its submission anyway. At the moment, the film is jockeying with a handful of others for one of the final spots in Best Picture. Meanwhile, Fjord remains near the top of International Feature, only outpaced by La Bola Negra and All of a Sudden.
Venice — Woman Unknown
The period drama from director May el-Toukhy was a bit of a surprise Golden Lion winner at this year’s Venice, and since then, hasn’t received the same sustained support as Fjord or La Bola Negra. Still, it’s within the Top 10 of likely nominees for Best International Feature according to Gold Derby’s combined odds.
Toronto — La Bola Negra
After a Best Director win at Cannes, the decades-spanning drama from filmmaking duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi received a well-timed boost when it was picked as the People’s Choice Award winner at TIFF 2026. Currently, La Bola Negra is looking competitive in Picture, Director, Supporting Actress and Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Casting, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Production Design, Score, Song, and International Feature.
