Germany has chosen Mascha Schilinski’s Sound of Falling (In die Sonne schauen) as its submission for the best international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The multigenerational drama, produced by Studio Zentral, was picked by an independent jury convened by German Films from a shortlist of five contenders. The jury praised the film as “formally uncompromising, emotionally existential and artistically unique — a solitary work within German and international cinema,” noting its rare urgency and poetic storytelling.
Sound of Falling premiered in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it opened the festival and won the Jury Prize ex aequo. The film has since screened in Shanghai, Karlovy Vary and at festivals in Australia, with upcoming North American and New York premieres confirmed.
Set on an isolated farmstead in Germany’s Altmark region, the film traces the lives of four women across a century — Alma (1910s), Erika (1940s), Angelika (1980s) and Nelly (2020s) — whose stories are intertwined by trauma, repression and recurring tragedy.
“For our whole team, it’s a huge honor that Sound of Falling will represent Germany at the Oscars,” Schilinski said in a statement. “Our journey from Cannes to this moment proves that it’s worth believing in your artistic vision and staying true to yourself — if you find the right companions along the way.”
Producers Maren Schmitt, Lucas Schmidt and Lasse Scharpen added: “It is a particular honor that Sound of Falling has been chosen as Germany’s Oscar entry. In the 98-year history of the Oscars, films directed by women remain underrepresented. We are proud to showcase the quality of German cinema internationally with Mascha Schilinski’s film and hope to build on the success she has already had in Cannes.”
Schilinski, who studied screenwriting in Hamburg and directing at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, made her feature debut with The Daughter, which premiered at the Berlinale in 2017. Sound of Falling is her second feature. MUBI has acquired rights for North America, the U.K., Ireland, India and Turkey, while mk2 is handling international sales. Neue Visionen will release the film in Germany on Aug. 28.
The Academy will unveil the full list of international feature submissions in November. A 15-film shortlist will be unveiled Dec. 16, with final nominees announced Jan. 22. The 98th Academy Awards will take place Mar. 15, 2026.