The Cannes Jury Prize-winning film Sound of Falling, directed by Mascha Schilinski, will represent Germany in the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards, per dw.com. The announcement was made on Thursday by an independent jury appointed by German Films, the national promotion agency for German cinema.
The jury described the film as “formally uncompromising, emotionally existential, and artistically unique,” praising its masterful direction and universal themes. Originally titled “In die Sonne schauen,” the drama is set on a farm in the Altmark region and spans a century, weaving together the lives of four women—Alma (1910s), Erika (1940s), Angelika (1980s), and Nelly (2020s)—who are connected by intergenerational trauma and buried family secrets. A tragic event repeats itself, blurring the lines between past and present in a “physical experience that resonates and burns itself into the memory.”
The film was selected from a shortlist of five German titles, including works by acclaimed directors Fatih Akin and Andres Veiel. It previously won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, where it opened the official competition. Critics have hailed it as a “mesmerizing stunner” and a “captivating, courageous portrait of womanhood.”
Reacting to the news, Schilinski expressed her gratitude and hope that the film’s success will encourage more filmmakers to “explore new narrative paths.” The film’s producers also highlighted the importance of increased female representation at the Oscars, noting that female directors have been nominated for Best Director on only nine occasions.
While its selection is a major step, “Sound of Falling” still has a long way to go before it can secure an Oscar. The Academy will announce a shortlist of 15 finalists on December 16, with the final five nominees revealed on January 22, 2026. Germany’s last win in this category was for “All Quiet on the Western Front” in 2023.
