Austria selects Sandra Hüller drama ‘Rose’ as International Oscar hopeful

Austria has selected Rose, a black-and-white drama starring Sandra Hüller, as its submission for the Academy Awards International Feature Film category, according to Deadline. The choice puts a Berlin Film Festival winner into the international race after its world premiere in competition at this year’s Berlinale and its subsequent pickup by Mubi.

Rose, directed by Markus Schleinzer, premiered at the Berlinale in the competition section, where Hüller won the festival’s Silver Bear for best leading performance. Deadline described the film as a period drama and noted that it is in contention for the Oscar category.

The Academy’s International Feature Film submission process requires each participating country to name a single feature film that will represent it during the judging cycle. Austria’s selection therefore establishes Rose as the country’s official entry for the International Feature Film category, subject to the Academy’s later eligibility and screening requirements.

Deadline also reported that Mubi acquired the film’s rights for distribution “for all rights” following its festival run. That means the film’s release strategy will now be shaped by the platform’s rollout plans alongside the awards timeline.

Rose joins the group of festival-to-awards releases that often translate critical festival attention into broader availability for Oscar voters and general audiences. Austria’s selection also indicates continued industry emphasis on European auteurs and established actors as a way to maintain visibility in a category that typically draws films with strong festival track records.

While the submission secures Austria’s stake in the Academy’s process, the film still faces the later stages of the awards system, including the Academy’s evaluation and shortlisting steps. Those steps determine whether the entry advances beyond national selection into the final list of nominees.

For viewers and the broader film market, the combination of an awards campaign entry and a platform rights deal can affect when and how audiences gain access to the title. With Mubi holding all reported rights, Rose’s availability may be tied to the streamer’s scheduled release windows and promotional commitments during the awards cycle.