Coward (2026): Lukas Dhont’s New Film - Plot & News

Belgium has officially selected Lukas Dhont’s Coward as its candidate for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards, the country’s cinema board confirmed on Tuesday. The announcement positions the Flemish director’s First World War drama as a major European contender in the 2027 race, following his previous Palme d’Or nomination for Close (2022).

Set to premiere in Belgian theaters on October 21, 2026, Coward centers on Pierre, a young soldier portrayed by Emmanuel Macchia, who is desperate to prove his courage on the battlefields of the Great War. The narrative shifts when Pierre, stationed away from the frontlines, crosses paths with Francis, played by Valentin Campagne, a man tasked with finding ways to lift troop morale behind the lines. Their meeting ignites a connection that complicates Pierre’s ambitions and reshapes his understanding of duty, intimacy, and survival.

The film, which blends drama, romance, and war, runs 120 minutes and was written by Dhont, maintaining the intimate character focus that earned his previous work international acclaim. The cast includes Jef Jacobs as Jozef Stevens, Willem De Schryver as Jacobs, Liam Jacqmin as Blanckaert, Mistral Guidotti as Gustaaf Cooreman, Jonas Wertz as Jozef, and Boris Bouchat as Thomas, though detailed character breakdowns have not been fully released.

A Director’s Return to the International Spotlight

Dhont’s selection comes with considerable expectations. His sophomore feature, Close, earned the Grand Prix at Cannes and a nomination for Best International Feature at the 95th Academy Awards, where it lost to All Quiet on the Western Front. That film’s sensitive handling of adolescent friendship and grief made Dhont one of the most talked-about young European filmmakers of his generation. With Coward, he shifts to a historical backdrop, but early festival buzz suggests he retains his hallmark emotional restraint amid the chaos of war.

Belgium’s submission history is modest but notable. The country has never won the Oscar for International Feature, though it has received three nominations, most recently with Close. The selection of Coward signals confidence that Dhont can repeat and potentially exceed that recognition, especially given the Academy’s recent openness to bold, formally precise European dramas.

A Different Kind of War Story

What sets Coward apart from typical battlefield epics is its deliberate removal from combat. Pierre’s desire to prove himself is constantly thwarted by his assignment far from the action, creating a psychological tension that Dhont reportedly explores through quiet observation rather than spectacle. The introduction of Francis, whose mission is to boost morale among soldiers, sets up a narrative dynamic that examines camaraderie and suppressed emotion under duress.

The romantic element, hinted at in the film’s genre classification, suggests a relationship that complicates Pierre’s traditional notions of valor. Rather than a straightforward anti-war statement, the story appears to interrogate what courage actually means when the enemy is invisible and the greatest battles happen within. That thematic ambition, combined with Dhont’s known visual sensitivity, positions Coward as a potential awards-season favorite among critics who reward nuanced historical drama.

Early reactions from select festival screenings have reportedly praised the performances of Macchia and Campagne, both relatively fresh faces in Belgian cinema. The film’s production design is said to emphasize muddy, confined spaces - trenches, dugouts, makeshift camps - which heighten the sense of entrapment that defines Pierre’s journey.

The Road to the Oscars

Belgium’s announcement places Coward in a competitive field that will take shape over the coming months. Other countries are expected to declare their submissions through late September and October, after which the Academy will shortlist contenders in December before final nominations in January 2027. The film’s late-October domestic release suggests a campaign designed to keep it fresh in voters’ minds, though its theatrical run may also extend into international markets ahead of the nomination window.

The Academy’s International Feature committee has historically favored films with clear directorial authorship and strong festival pedigrees. Dhont’s name recognition from Close may carry weight, as will the film’s timely themes of masculinity, vulnerability, and the cost of proving oneself - a narrative that resonates beyond its historical setting. Yet competition remains fierce, with Cannes winners, Venice premieres, and festival favorites from across the globe vying for the same slots.

For now, Belgium’s choice signals a clear strategy: double down on a homegrown talent with proven international appeal. Whether Coward can translate its intimate scale into Oscar gold remains to be seen, but the country’s confidence is unambiguous. With its October release date approaching, audiences will soon have the chance to judge for themselves whether this story of a soldier’s inner battle lives up to the early promise.

Source: Hollywood Reporter