The Best International Feature Film category is never short on surprises, and 2025 has no shortage of firsts. Of the 86 submissions deemed to be eligible by AMPAS, several were debut features — including Diego Céspedes’ Chilean title The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingos — and two countries entering the fray for the first time ever: Madagascar and Papua New Guinea. Poised to make history is the Iraqi selection The President’s Cake , which won two prestigious awards in Cannes (the Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award and the Camera d’Or). If it makes the Oscar shortlist, it will be the first of 14 films that the Middle Eastern country has selected since 2005.

A total of 14 submissions will take part in today’s Contenders Film: International, Deadline’s annual virtual panel showcase, wh

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