IFTA Announces Ireland’s Entry For Oscars® 2026 (International Feature Film) as Ukrainian-language film Sanatorium

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced that the Irish-made, Ukrainian-language film Sanatorium has been selected to represent Ireland in the Oscar® International Feature Film category at the upcoming 98th annual Academy Awards. The film follows in the steps of Oscar- Nominated An Cailín Ciúin in 2023 and Oscar-shortlisted Kneecap in 2025, and will compete with other films from around the world for next year’s Academy Awards.

The Oscar® International Feature Film category is a specific category for films produced in a language other than English. Each country can enter just one film into this category to represent their country. In the past, IFTA’s Selection Committee has selected predominantly Irish language films such as Kneecap (Oscar shortlisted, 2025) and An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl (Oscar Nominated, 2023), but have also selected unique films in other languages including Viva (Spanish-language, Oscar shortlisted in 2006), In The Shadow of Beirut (Arabic-language, 2024), Gaza (Arabic-language, 2019) and As If I Am Not There (Serbo Croatian-language, 2011).

An incredibly unique and wryly humorous film, Sanatorium is a vividly cinematic real-life observation of a community searching for love, healing and happiness within the confines of a wellness centre near Odesa in southern Ukraine with colourful characters, where the staff and visitors are determined to have a holiday away from the outside world, a moment in their lives to “restore” themselves despite the war, with curious treatments including a mysterious black mud, said to cure infertility, physical disabilities and various other ailments.

Sanatorium was selected by IFTA’s 2025 Selection Committee, that includes Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Kirsten Sheridan (In America, Disco Pigs); BAFTA & IFTA-winning filmmakers Rich Peppiatt (Kneecap, One Rogue Reporter) and Neasa Hardiman (Untamed, Happy Valley); Emmy & IFTA-nominated casting director Louise Kiely (The Banshees of Inisherin, Normal People); Emmy- nominated & IFTA-winning filmmaker Aoife McArdle (Severance, Kissing Candice); IFTA-winning actor Barry Ward (That They May Face The Rising Sun, Jimmy’s Hall); and chaired by IFTA Chief Executive Áine Moriarty.

Directed by Galway-born filmmaker Gar O’Rourke and produced by Venom Films by IFTA-winning Ken Wardrop and Andrew Freedman (His & Hers, Making the Grade), along with Samantha Corr. Sanatorium was co-produced by 2332 Films Ukraine and made with support from Screen Ireland, BBC Storyville, MetFilm Sales, France TV, and Creative Europe. The film was edited by John Murphy (editor of An Cailín Ciúin), with Denys Melnyk (Militantropos) as director of photography. Irish Distributor Eclipse Pictures will release the film in Irish Cinemas on Friday 5th September.

Sanatorium had its World Premiere at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen in their main international competition, DOX:AWARD, in late March 2025. The film has subsequently gone on to screen at international festivals including Visions Du Reel in Switzerland, Edinburgh International Film Festival, DocuDays UA, Melbourne International Film Festival, and Galway Film Fleadh, where it won Best Irish Feature Documentary 2025.

Sanatorium takes a vivid look at Kuyalnik Sanatorium, a large 1970s building near Odesa in southern Ukraine, where a small group searches for love, healing & happiness, with mud treatments and Soviet-era therapies continuing despite a war close by. The biggest attraction is the mysterious black mud, said to cure infertility, physical disabilities and various other ailments. From the perspective of an Irish filmmaker, Sanatorium takes a unique look at a summer season at this unusual place, following the staff as they work hard to provide care, comfort and entertainment for visitors - even with the war nearby. For the guests, it's a time to seek healing, love and renewal.

Áine Moriarty, IFTA Chief Executive said:

“IFTA is delighted to announce that Sanatorium will represent Ireland in the upcoming Oscar International Feature Film category. What an intriguing and quietly powerful film, with its vibrant and visually stunning scenery and colourful cast of real-life characters who find escapism within the confines of an unconventional wellness centre in Ukraine. It is so inspiring to see an Irish Director and creative team collaborate with Ukrainian colleagues to capture these moments in time, which will no doubt resonate with audiences worldwide”.

Writer/Director Gar O’Rourke added:

“To have the privilege of representing Ireland on the biggest stage in world cinema is an incredible honour, and I’m deeply grateful to IFTA and everyone who has been on this journey with us. Since the premiere of Sanatorium earlier this year, the international response has been overwhelming. This was a film that set out to show the power of healing, the resilience of community, and above all the strength of the Ukrainian spirit in the face of such traumatic times. None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary dedication of our Ukrainian crew and co-producers 2332 Films, the producers at Venom Films, and the invaluable support of Screen Ireland, amongst our many other partners.”

Producers Andrew Freedman, Ken Wardrop and Samantha Corr said:

“We’re truly honoured that Sanatorium has been chosen as Ireland’s Official Selection for International Feature Film. It’s a huge recognition of the dedication of Gar O’Rourke, John Murphy and everyone who helped bring this story to the screen. Most of all, it salutes the resilient community of Kuyalnik Sanatorium outside Odesa – where even in the shadow of war, people come to heal, to laugh and to show extraordinary humanity.

Our deepest thanks go to our Ukrainian collaborators and crew – Denys Melnyk, Serhiy Solodko and all those whose courage and creativity brought this film to life. In a year marked by conflict, they remind us why film matters – to bear witness, to build empathy and to show our shared humanity. We also want to thank our partners, especially Screen Ireland, for their support throughout this journey, and IFTA for this honour. We dedicate this milestone to the staff, the guests and the people of Kuyalnik who gave us their stories and their hearts.”

Keith Potter, Head of Film, Screen Ireland said:

"We're delighted to congratulate director Gar O'Rourke and the entire creative team behind Irish documentary Sanatorium, on being selected by IFTA as Ireland's official entry to the 98th Academy Awards. From its premiere at CPH:Dox in Copenhagen to its recent win at the Galway Film Fleadh, this cinematic Irish documentary continues to make connections with audiences, and we wish the team the best of luck as it continues its journey around the world."

The Oscar® International Feature shortlist will be announced on Tuesday 16th December and the final five Nominees will be announced on Thursday 22nd January. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony (the Oscars®) takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday 15th March, 2026.