The Things You Kill is Canada’s Choice in the race for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars®
MONTREAL – The Things You Kill is representing Canada in the nomination process for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards®, to be held on March 15, 2026. The film is directed, written and produced by Alireza Khatami and co-produced by Tell Tall Tale, Fulgurance, Remora Films, Lava Films, Band With Pictures and Sineaktif. It is being distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media. International sales are handled by Best Friend Forever.
“The films in selection this year demonstrate the vitality of our film industry. They are diverse, compelling, and resonate with audiences at home and abroad. From these remarkable films, a jury of peers has chosen The Things You Kill to represent Canada in the Oscar® race,” said Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO, Telefilm Canada. This choice highlights not only the exceptional talent of its creative team but also the strength of Canadian cinema as a whole. We are thrilled to celebrate this achievement and wish Alireza Khatami, Michael Solomon and the entire creative team the best of luck on this journey!”
“I am truly delighted that our film The Things You Kill has been selected to represent Canada at the Oscars,” said Alireza Khatami, Director. Eight years in the making, this film is a labour of love shaped by the dedication and generosity of so many extraordinary souls. What makes this moment especially meaningful to me is that Canada is making space for stories that BIPOC filmmakers have to share. I warmly thank the pan-Canadian Selection Committee on this important step, and I hope our selection marks the beginning of many more to come.”
The Things You Kill, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, will be released on September 19th, 2025. The film stars Ekin Koç, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, Hazar Ergüçlü, and Ercan Kesal.
As the appointed non-voting chair of the committee, Telefilm Canada organizes the annual pan-Canadian Selection Committee for Canada’s submission to the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards®.
The vote was determined by a pan-Canadian committee of industry organizations and guilds, as well as filmmakers and industry professionals appointed to represent organizations.16 films were submitted for consideration as Canada’s Choice this year. The committee met the morning of August 26th to select the film.
So far, 12 countries have submitted their entries for the Best International Feature Film category. Last year, 89 countries submitted a film.
Key dates:
- September 19 – Theatrical release date of The Things You Kill
- October 1, 2025 – Deadline for country submissions for the Best International Feature Film category
- December 16, 2025 – Academy shortlist of 15 titles selected to move forward.
- January 22, 2026 – Academy Award® nominations announced
- March 15, 2026 – Academy Awards® ceremony
About The Things You Kill
Synopsis
Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance. As long-buried family secrets resurface, the police tighten their noose, and doubts begin eroding his conscience. Ali has no choice but to look into the abyss of his own soul.
About Alireza Khatami
Alireza Khatami is a Canadian writer, director, and producer. Born into the Indigenous Khamse tribe in southeast Iran, he draws from the oral storytelling traditions of his heritage to craft films that blend magic realism with incisive social commentary. His work explores the invisible structures of power, memory, and identity through bold and unconventional cinematic language.
His debut feature, Oblivion Verses, premiered at the Venice Film Festival, winning the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay and the FIPRESCI Prize. His second feature, Terrestrial Verses (co-directed with Ali Asgari), premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard and has been released in over 15 countries.
His latest film, The Things You Kill, premiered at Sundance 2025, where it received widespread acclaim from both juries and critics, winning the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award. Described as “brilliant” by Variety, “feverish” by IndieWire, and “a case study in how to make an effective psychological thriller” by Vulture, the film confirms Khatami’s place as a vital voice in Canadian and international cinema.
Photos of the film here.
About Canada in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars®
In the history of the Oscars®, eight Canadian films have been official nominees in the Best International Feature Film (formerly known as the Best Foreign Language Film category): in 2013, Rebelle, by Kim Nguyen; in 2012, Monsieur Lazhar, by Philippe Falardeau and In Darkness, by Agnieszka Holland (a minority coproduction with Poland and Germany); in 2011, Incendies, by Denis Villeneuve; and, in 2007, Water, by Deepa Mehta. The list also includes three films by Denys Arcand: Le Déclin de l’empire américain, in 1987, Jésus de Montréal, in 1990 and, in 2004, Les Invasions barbares, the only Canadian film to have won the Oscar® in this category.
About the selection process for the Best International Feature Film category
Telefilm Canada coordinates and chairs the pan-Canadian Selection Committee, without voting right. The committee comprises 24 members representing key government agencies and national film industry associations. They can each appoint a representative to the jury. It is responsible for choosing the film that will represent Canada at the Oscars®, which accepts only one film per country for the Best International Feature Film category.
Academy rules were modified in 2023, specifying that juries must include a minimum of 50% craftspeople that are currently active in the film industry. Jury members must screen all submissions before participating in a virtual conference to evaluate and vote on which film will best represent Canada at the Oscars®. Jurors are encouraged to consider the quality of the films, as well as their international competitiveness.
Submitted films must have been produced outside the United States in a language of at least 51% other than English and must have been theatrically exhibited in the submitting country for at least seven consecutive days between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.
About Telefilm Canada
As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram and Letterboxd.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Joyce Richards
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Telefilm Canada
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Joyce.Richards@telefilm.ca
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Bonnie Smith
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(416) 457-6143
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