^{Credit: Arco (Neon)}

(UPDATE 9/17/2025, France has officially selected It Was Just An Accident as their Best International Feature Film submission for the 98th Academy Awards). 

Ugo Bienvenu’s animated feature Arco is among five finalists that France is considering as their Best International Feature Film submission at the 98^th Academy Awards. Arco, which centers on a ten-year-old who travels through time with a sentient rainbow, premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival to enthusiastic reviews. Neon has since picked it up for U.S. distribution, planning a November 14, 2025 release. In addition to producing, Natalie Portman lends her voice to the English dub, which includes Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mark Ruffalo, Andy Samberg, and child actor Romy Fay.

Arco wouldn’t be the first animated feature that France selected for Oscar consideration. In 2007, Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud’s Persepolis was submitted. While not nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, Persepolis did get into Best Animated Feature. Only three animated films have ever been nominated in the International Feature race: 2008’s Waltz with Bashir, 2021’s Flee, and 2024’s Flow. Arco is expected to at least get a Best Animated Feature nomination. If it can secure a Best International Feature slot as well, it would join Flee and Flow as the third film to nab double nods in these categories. Of course, France’s National Cinema Centre needs to select it first.

The other four films vying to represent France at the Oscars are Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident, Hafsia Herzi’s The Little Sister, Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, and Rebecca Zlotowski’s A Private Life. Like Arco, It Was Just An Accident made its debut at Cannes, winning the Palme d'Or. Of the five films that France is considering, It Was Just An Accident is perhaps the most likely Best Picture nominee based on early buzz. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be France’s pick. In 2023, Anatomy of a Fall was nominated for Best Picture, going on to win Best Original Screenplay. Instead of Justine Triet’s film, though, France chose The Taste of Things as their Best International Feature contender. It ultimately wasn’t nominated.

It Was Just an Accident could be viewed as too political for France. Not only does it explore oppression in Iran, but director Jafar Panahi was also banned from his home country. If France declines It Was Just an Accident, what’s the most practical alternative? The Little Sister took home the Queer Palm at Cannes, along with Best Actress for Nadia Melliti. Nouvelle Vague, which revolves around the French New Wave classic Breathless, has Netflix’s backing. A Private Life also has a high-profile star in Jodie Foster.  

Then there’s Arco, which could benefit from being an apple in a bag of oranges. It doesn’t hurt that Flow is still fresh in the Academy’s memory, potentially paving the way for more animation in this category. If Arco is selected, it wouldn’t be the only animated feature in the Best International Feature conversation. On the heels of Flow, Latvia has chosen another animated film, Dog of God, as their representative for Oscar consideration. As for France, the CNC is expected to make their final decision after reconvening on September 17, according to Deadline. Whatever they choose, one thing’s for sure: It won’t come with the same headache as Emilia Pérez (hopefully).

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1 and 2. Available Now!