Iran’s ‘Cause of Death: Unknown’ Competes for Best International Feature at 2026 Oscars
The psychological mystery thriller “Cause of Death: Unknown”, directed by Ali Zarnegar, has been officially selected as Iran’s submission for the 2026 Academy Awards in the category of Best International Feature Film. This exciting announcement comes from the selection committee at the Farabi Cinema Foundation, which operates under the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The committee evaluated all eligible films that have been screened locally since last October, as reported by ISNA.
The nine-member committee, comprising notable figures in Iranian cinema, unanimously chose “Cause of Death: Unknown” from five final contenders. The panel included:
- Directors Abolhassan Davoodi and Mostafa Kiaei
- Documentary filmmaker Azadeh Mousavi
- Actress Pantea Panahiha
- Actor Ali Dehkordi
- Screenwriter Farhad Tohidi
- Director of photography Hooman Behmanesh
- Sound designer Mohammad Reza Delpak
- Deputy of international affairs at Farabi, Mohammad Reza Tashakori
The other finalists in the running for this prestigious honor included:
- The Old Bachelor directed by Oktay Baraheni
- Woman and Child by Saeed Roustayi
- Call Me Ziba by Rasul Sadr Ameli
- Raha by Hesam Farahmand
“Cause of Death: Unknown” follows a group of strangers traveling through Iran’s Lut Desert. When one individual unexpectedly dies in the middle of the night, emergency services refuse to send an ambulance due to the absence of a verified cause of death by a doctor. In a shocking turn of events, the men discover the deceased has no identification but carries a large sum of money, forcing them to face a moral and ethical dilemma: should they take the body to a hospital or bury it and split the cash?
Set against a backdrop of a life-and-death crisis, this thought-provoking film delves into themes of morality, survival, and the complex nature of human behavior when confronted with unknown and dire circumstances. It explores the social realities of the era, showcasing the struggles and crises individuals face in their quest to maintain morality and humanity.
The film also represents a significant aspect of social history and cultural identity, reflecting the moral principles inherent in Iranian society. By addressing pervasive social issues, “Cause of Death: Unknown” provides a critical analysis of the challenges faced by both individuals and communities, shedding light on Iran’s rich cultural and historical context.
With a runtime of 106 minutes, the film features a talented cast, including:
- Banipal Shoomoon
- Alireza Sanifar
- Neda Jebraeili
- Ali Mohammad Radmanesh
- Zakieh Behbahani
- Reza Amouzad
- Soheil Bavi
- Saeed Rezaeikia
- Milad Moradi
- Ashkan Ashoori
- Sahar Babaei
Premiering at the Shanghai Film Festival in 2023, “Cause of Death: Unknown” received the Best Cinematography prize awarded to cameraman Davood Malek Hosseini. Earlier this year, the film also won the Audience Favorite Film Award at the 3rd Iranian Film Festival in New York.
This remarkable film has gained international recognition, having been screened at various festivals, including:
- Torino Underground Cinefest in Italy
- Pigeon International Film Festival in Iceland
- Girona Film Festival in Spain
- Monadnock International Film Festival in the U.S.
Additionally, it won the Best Feature Film award at the Iranian Film Festival in Zürich. Historically, a total of three films submitted by Iran have secured Oscar nominations in the Best Foreign Film category. These include:
- Majid Majidi’s “Children of Heaven” in 1999
- Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation” in 2012
- Asghar Farhadi’s “The Salesman” in 2017
As of now, submissions for the Best International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards are being accepted, with the competition intensifying earlier than in previous years. An international feature film is defined as a motion picture produced outside the U.S. with a predominantly non-English dialogue track and must have a runtime of over 40 minutes.
Films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, with the submission deadline for the Academy set for October 1, 2025. Last year, a total of 86 countries submitted films for this category, with 15 making it to the shortlist and five ultimately nominated. Brazil’s “I’m Still Here”, directed by Walter Salles, won the Oscar in this category.
The Academy will announce the first shortlist of 15 films in contention for the 2026 Best International Feature Oscar on December 16, 2025, with final nominations scheduled for January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards Ceremony is set to take place in Los Angeles on March 15, 2026.
