Oscars: Iceland Picks ‘The Love That Remains’ as Best Int’l Feature Submission
Hlynur Pálmason’s The Love That Remains will represent Iceland as its official entry in the best international feature film category for the 2026 Oscars. The Icelandic jury, formed by the Icelandic Film and TV Academy, unveiled its selection on Wednesday.
It marks the third time that a film by Pálmason is submitted for the Academy Awards by Iceland, following A White, White Day (2020) and Godland (2024). The latter reached the shortlist for the Academy Awards.
The film captures “a year in the life of a family as parents navigate their separation,” reads a synopsis. “Through playful and heartfelt moments, it portrays the bittersweet essence of faded love and shared memories amidst the changing seasons.”
The movie is “visually arresting and bittersweet,” said THR’s review.
“The Love That Remains captivates with strong and effortless performances and a simple yet powerful visual narrative,” said the Icelandic jury that selected the film for the Oscar race. “It moves seamlessly between social realism and artistic imagery, captivating the viewer from the very first frame. The interactions and interpretations of the actors are so authentic that the viewer feels almost as if looking through a peephole into the life of a real family, rather than witnessing a predetermined structure or staged performance.”
It concluded: “Above all, The Love That Remains is an ode to nature, family, and love. Outstanding in so many ways, where cinematography, editing, and sound design create a cohesive, multilayered film with a special kind of magic – where the storytelling lies within the images themselves.”
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15. The shortlist will be unveiled on Dec. 16, followed by the nominations on Jan. 22.
The Love That Remains had its world premiere at Cannes in the Premiere section this year. The cast includes Saga Garðarsdóttir, Sverrir Guðnason, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Þorgils Hlynsson, Grímur Hlynsson, Ingvar Sigurðsson, and Anders Mossling.
The movie was produced by Anton Máni Svansson for Still Vivid (Iceland), in collaboration with Katrin Pors for Snowglobe (Denmark), and co-produced by Mikkel Jersin and Eva Jakobsen for Snowglobe (Denmark), Nima Yousefi for Hobab (Sweden), Didar Domehri for Maneki Films (France), Anthony Muir and Kristina Börjeson for Film I Väst (Sweden), and Olivier Pere and Remi Burah for Arte France Cinema (France).
New Europe Film Sales is handling international sales. North American rights for the film are with Janus Films.
