The film "Sanatorium", directed by Irish filmmaker Gar O'Rourke and filmed in Ukraine, will compete for a nomination for the Oscar-2026 in the category of Best International Feature Film from Ireland.

This was announced by the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA).

Gar O'Rourke, hailing from Galway, Ireland, is the director, while producers Andrew Friedman, Ken Wardrop, and Samantha Corr have collaborated to bring this unique story to life. The film focuses on the "Kuyalnik" sanatorium near Odesa, built in the 1970s, which serves as both a hotel and a medical center amid the backdrop of war. The world premiere of "Sanatorium" took place at the end of March at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival. Subsequently, the film participated in various international festivals, including Visions Du Reel in Switzerland, the Edinburgh International Film Festival, DocuDays UA, the Melbourne International Film Festival, and the Galway Film Fleadh, where it won the award for Best Irish Feature Documentary 2025.

The film is set to premiere in Irish cinemas on September 5. The shortlist of international feature films competing for the Oscar-2026 will be announced on December 16, with the final five nominees revealed on January 22, 2026.