For the first time in its history, the Czech Republic will compete for the Best International Feature Film Oscar with a documentary.

The Czech Film and Television Academy (ČFTA) has chosen I’m Not Everything I Want to Be, directed by Klára Tasovská, as the country’s official submission for the 2026 Academy Awards.

The film is a portrait of the life and career of Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, who was noted for her photography of the underground LGBTQ scene in Prague prior to the decriminalization of homosexuality in the country.

Its world premiere took place earlier this year at the Berlin International Film Festival, followed by screenings at major festivals in Vienna, New York, Turin and Copenhagen’s CPH:DOX. It also enjoyed a successful run in Czech cinemas.

The film also won the audience award and the Pass Culture jury prize in Écrans mixtes, LGBTQ+ festival of Lyon in 2025.

This year’s selection process was different from previous ones. The ČFTA presidium introduced a two-round vote: in the first round, a committee shortlisted three to four titles from all submissions.

In the second round, the entire academy voted on the final choice. According to ČFTA, both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and the producers of eligible films were informed of the change beforehand.

The shortlist included the dramas Choirmaster and Caravan, alongside Tasovská’s documentary.

While artistic merit remained a key factor, the ČFTA stressed that other considerations — such as marketing plans, available funding for an Oscar campaign, and the ability to secure an experienced distributor for the U.S. market — played an important role.

The Oscars 2026 shortlist will be revealed in mid-December, with final nominations announced on January 22.

The award ceremony is scheduled for the night of Monday, March 16, 2026.

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