Who Is Still Alive (2026) - Nicolas Wadimoff Film News

Switzerland has selected the documentary Who is Still Alive as its official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards. The announcement, made on Wednesday, positions director Nicolas Wadimoff’s stark portrait of Gaza as the country’s contender for Oscar glory in 2027.

The film, which premiered earlier this year, offers a hauntingly minimalist visual approach. A map of Gaza - its towns, camps, and neighborhoods - is drawn in white paint on a black backdrop. Within those rough outlines, nine refugees who managed to escape the ongoing conflict share their personal stories of survival and loss. The result is a devastating, almost schematic look at a place defined by both its geography and its people’s memories.

Wadimoff, a Swiss filmmaker with a long history of politically engaged work, has crafted a documentary that is less about headlines and more about individual voices. The cast is composed entirely of non-actors, each identified only by name: Jawdat Khoudary, Mahmoud Jouda, Adel Altaweel, Haneen Harara, Malak Khadra, Hana Eleiwa, Feras Elshrafi, and Eman Shannan. Their testimonies, delivered against the stark cartographic imagery, form the heart of the 113-minute runtime.

The film first hit theaters on February 5, 2026, and has since circulated through festival circuits where its unflinching subject matter has drawn both acclaim and controversy. The TMDb rating currently sits at zero, a reflection of the limited data available rather than any critical consensus, but industry observers note that documentaries of this nature often gain momentum through awards season rather than commercial buzz.

Switzerland’s choice is notable for its boldness. The country’s selection committee has historically favored more conventional dramas or human-interest stories, making this pick a clear departure. Who is Still Alive does not offer easy answers or a polished narrative. Instead, it forces viewers to sit with the raw reality of displacement and the persistent memory of a homeland under siege.

The Oscar submission comes at a time when international attention on Gaza remains intense, and the Academy has increasingly recognized films that tackle global crises. However, the Best International Feature race is notoriously competitive, with dozens of countries submitting their finest work. Switzerland’s decision signals a willingness to engage with difficult geopolitics rather than retreat into safer cinematic territory.

Wadimoff’s previous works have often explored themes of conflict, identity, and the margins of society, but Who is Still Alive feels like a more personal and urgent statement. The director has spoken in interviews about the challenge of translating such immense suffering into a coherent cinematic language, and his solution - the stark map, the unadorned testimonies - grants the film a haunting purity.

The documentary also raises questions about the role of cinema in documenting ongoing atrocities. By focusing on the survivors rather than the mechanics of war, Wadimoff shifts the audience’s attention to the human cost. The refugees’ stories range from harrowing escapes to moments of unexpected tenderness, creating a mosaic that resists simple categorization.

For the Academy, this submission will likely be evaluated not just on artistic merit but also on the weight of its subject matter. In recent years, the category has honored films like Zone of Interest and All Quiet on the Western Front, both of which grappled with the moral complexities of violence and memory. Who is Still Alive fits squarely within that tradition, though its documentary format sets it apart from the narrative features that usually dominate.

Switzerland has a spotty record in this category; the country has received several nominations over the decades but has never won the prize. This year’s selection suggests the committee is aiming for impact rather than a safe bet. Whether that gamble pays off depends on how voters respond to a film that offers no comfort, only the stark truth of its title.

As the campaign begins, Wadimoff and his team will likely lean into the film’s festival pedigree and the urgency of its message. The lack of a star-studded cast or a familiar narrative arc may hurt its chances with more mainstream voters, but the raw power of the testimonies could resonate deeply with those who prioritize substance over spectacle.

With the Oscars still months away, the official shortlist will be revealed later this year, and Who is Still Alive will face stiff competition from across the globe. But for now, Switzerland has made its statement, and the film’s title poses a question that lingers long after the credits roll - a question that, for the nine refugees on screen, remains terrifyingly open.

Source: Hollywood Reporter