Germany has officially thrown its hat into the ring for the 2027 Oscars, selecting the Cannes-winning sci-fi adventure Everything Everywhere All at Once as its contender for Best International Feature Film. The announcement, made earlier today by German Films, the country’s national promotional agency, marks a surprising but strategic pivot for a nation typically known for its arthouse dramas and historical epics.
The 2022 film, directed by Daniel Scheinert and starring Michelle Yeoh, follows an aging Chinese immigrant named Evelyn Wang who becomes the unlikely hero of a multiverse-spanning crisis. When she discovers that she can access the lives she might have led in other universes, Evelyn must harness these fragmented versions of herself to save not only her family but the very fabric of reality. The film blends martial arts chaos, absurdist humor, and a deeply emotional core about maternal love and generational trauma.
With a runtime of 140 minutes and a mix of action, adventure, and science fiction genres, Everything Everywhere All at Once became a global phenomenon upon its March 2024 release, earning widespread critical acclaim and a TMDb rating of 7.711/10. Its ensemble cast includes Stephanie Hsu as Evelyn’s daughter Joy, who also embodies the nihilistic villain Jobu Tupaki, alongside Ke Huy Quan as the sweet, fanny-pack-wearing Waymond Wang, James Hong as the disapproving Gong Gong, and Jamie Lee Curtis as the IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre. Supporting turns from Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate, and Harry Shum Jr. round out a deeply layered narrative that jumps between tax audits, hot dog fingers, and rock-with-googly-eyes existentialism.
The choice, however, is not as straightforward as it seems. Everything Everywhere All at Once is an American production, financed and produced by A24, and was already submitted by the United States for the 2023 Academy Awards, where it won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. So how can Germany claim it now? The answer lies in the Academy’s complex eligibility rules, which allow a country to select a film if it meets certain criteria regarding creative control and national representation - though the specifics here remain a matter of legal interpretation.
According to German Films, the selection was made possible after the film’s producers, including the Daniels' creative team and A24, formally requested to be considered under German submission. Sources close to the decision indicate that the film’s lead actress, Michelle Yeoh, has maintained a close working relationship with German co-producers on various projects, and a significant portion of the visual effects and post-production work was completed in Berlin studios. While the film’s dialogue is predominantly English and Mandarin, the Academy’s international branch has previously accepted submissions with non-native languages if the country can demonstrate a "significant creative contribution."
This move has already sparked heated debate within the German film community. Some industry insiders argue that this is a bold, modern reimagining of what German cinema can represent in a globalized world. Others, however, view it as a cynical attempt to ride on the coattails of a beloved film rather than championing original German-language voice. The decision also overshadows several well-regarded German productions released this year, including a critically praised drama about post-war reconstruction and a documentary on the Berlin techno scene, which had been considered frontrunners for the submission.
If accepted, Everything Everywhere All at Once would be a unique competitor in the international feature category. Its blend of zany multiverse action and universal themes of family resilience has already proven its appeal to Academy voters. But the film’s previous Best Picture win could complicate its new run. Under current Academy rules, a film that has already won a major Oscar is not disqualified from being submitted by another country, but it would be an unprecedented scenario where the same motion picture competes for international honors nearly four years after its original victory.
Director Daniel Scheinert, who co-directed with Daniel Kwan (the duo known collectively as Daniels), has not yet issued a public statement. However, producer Jonathan Wang previously mentioned in interviews that the film was always intended as a global story, one that transcends borders and languages. The film’s thematic concerns - immigration, assimilation, and the fractured bonds between first-generation parents and their children - resonate deeply within Germany’s large immigrant communities, particularly those of Asian descent, which may have influenced the surprise decision.
The Academy has yet to confirm whether it will accept Germany’s submission, and a formal review may be required. The final shortlist for the Best International Feature Film is expected in December 2026, with nominations announced in January 2027. For now, Germany’s choice signals a dramatic shift in how countries approach the Oscars - less focused on national origin, more on cinematic universality.
As the awards season gears up, all eyes will be on whether the Academy plays along. If Everything Everywhere All at Once makes the cut, it could open the floodgates for other nations to claim international co-productions in creative ways. For German cinema, already celebrated for its technical prowess and emotional depth, this selection is either a brilliant gamble or a puzzling identity crisis - and Hollywood is watching closely.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
