The latest feature film by Belgian directors Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, 'Jeunes Mères,' has been chosen as Belgium’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars, Wallonie Bruxelles Images (WBI) announced on Tuesday.
The film follows the lives of five young women living in a centre for young mothers. Despite their challenging upbringings, they strive to build better futures for both themselves and their children.
Earlier this year, 'Jeunes Mères' won multiple accolades at the Cannes Film Festival, including the award for Best Screenplay, the Prix du Cinéma Positif, the Ecoprod Award for ecological production, and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury.
The national selection committee picked 'Jeunes Mères' from four finalists. This year’s panel included producers Gregory Zalcman (Take Five) and Eva Kuperman (Stenola Productions), cinema head Juliette Duret (Bozar), directors Lenny Van Wesemael and Sahim Omar Kalifa, and committee chair Hilde Delaere (producer, FBO).
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which oversees the Oscars, will evaluate the submissions over the coming months. A shortlist of 15 films will be revealed on 16 December, with the final five nominees to be announced on 22 January 2026.
The Oscars ceremony will take place on the night of Sunday 15 to Monday 16 March 2026.
