Thailand selects Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s “9 Temples To Heaven” as its Oscar entry for International Feature Film category

Thailand has selected Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s feature film “9 Temples To Heaven” as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, according to Deadline. The submission marks the latest Academy push for a film that has already been screened internationally through Cannes’ Quinzaine des Réalisateurs program this year.

Deadline reports that “9 Temples To Heaven” is a co-production involving Thailand, Singapore, France, Norway, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Qatar. The film’s multi-country financing and production footprint reflects the growing international structure of contemporary art-house filmmaking, especially for titles seeking global visibility ahead of major awards windows.

The film premiered in the Quinzaine competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Deadline said. The Quinzaine des Réalisateurs is an independent Cannes selection that runs parallel to the festival’s main competition, often serving as a launching point for films that later move into sales, streaming, and awards consideration.

According to the Deadline report, “9 Temples To Heaven” follows a character named Sakol. The story centers on a journey that is framed through the film’s title, as it develops around multiple sacred or symbolic locations, with the narrative described as moving through a sequence of experiences associated with the “temples” in the title.

The Academy Awards process for the Best International Feature Film category requires each participating country to submit one film for consideration, and the selected title does not become a nominee automatically. After Thailand’s submission is filed, the Academy’s International Feature Film selection and voting procedures determine which films advance to the nomination stage.

For the filmmakers and production team, selection as a country’s Oscar entry typically brings renewed attention from international buyers, press, and awards voters during the campaigning period that precedes the Academy’s shortlist and final nominations. Deadline’s report places the film’s choice within that timeline, following its Cannes presentation and positioning it for the international category’s next steps.

“9 Temples To Heaven” will now enter the United States awards cycle tied to the 99th Oscars, where it will be evaluated alongside other country entries. A decision on any nomination is expected later in the season through the Academy’s standard procedures, with the Thailand selection serving as the formal start of the film’s Oscar eligibility pathway for this category.