National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka

Media Release

Sri Lanka Begins Selection Process for Its Official Submission to the 99th Academy Awards

The National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka (NFC) has begun the process of selecting a Sri Lankan film for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards, laying the groundwork for a lasting national pathway to cinema's biggest stage.

The initiative is being administered through the National Oscars Selection Committee of Sri Lanka (NOSCSL), established by the NFC to oversee the national selection process. The Committee will review eligible submissions and recommend a single film to represent Sri Lanka in the International Feature Film category.

Speaking at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department on 11 September, the Chairman of the National Film Corporation, filmmaker Mr Sudath Mahaadivulwewa, said that arrangements are now in place to select and submit a film to represent Sri Lanka at the upcoming Academy Awards. Thirty-seven Sri Lankan films released in cinemas between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026 will be eligible to apply.

Mr Mahaadivulwewa noted that although Sri Lankan cinema is approaching its hundredth year, no film has ever been submitted to the Academy Awards through a continuous, state-backed national process. The Corporation intends to change that, beginning this year, with a commitment to facilitate submissions every year for the next five years.

Eligibility Criteria

Films seeking consideration must meet the following requirements set for the national selection process:

• The film must have received the relevant approval from the authorities and have run continuously in a Sri Lankan cinema for at least seven days.
• The film must have a running time of more than 40 minutes.
• The director must be a Sri Lankan citizen.
• The film must be in Sinhala or Tamil.
• The majority of the cast must be Sri Lankan citizens.
• At least 50% of the technical crew must be Sri Lankan citizens.
• Applicants must meet any other requirements stipulated for the submission process.

What Happens Next

Eligible films will be reviewed against these criteria, and the film chosen to represent Sri Lanka will then be submitted for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards. The Corporation hopes the initiative will strengthen Sri Lanka's presence on the international film stage and give local filmmakers a consistent, transparent route to major international awards and festivals in the years ahead.

Present at the Briefing

Name	Role
Sudath Mahaadivulwewa	Chairman, National Film Corporation
Wasantha Kotuwella	Member of the Board of Directors, National Film Corporation
Ruwan Premaweera	General Manager, National Film Corporation
Pradeep Lanka Dharmawickrama	Deputy General Manager, Finance & Administration
Anuruddha Jayasinghe	Chairman, State Film Sub-Committee
Uditha Lakmal Kahandawaarachchi	Coordinator, Foreign Film Festivals

The National Film Corporation looks forward to offering eligible Sri Lankan filmmakers a fair, structured path to national consideration for the Academy Awards and other major international film events.