Cristian Mungiu's Fjord arrived at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10 in the Special Presentations section. Romania had already declared its position. The country's National Film Center unanimously selected the film as its official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards on September 3.
The selection carries weight from Cannes. Fjord premiered on May 18, received a 12-minute standing ovation, and won five awards: the Palme d'Or, the François Chalais Prize, the FIPRESCI Prize, the Ecumenical Jury Prize, and the Prix de la Citoyenneté. It is Mungiu's second Palme d'Or. His first came in 2007 for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
The film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a Romanian-Norwegian couple whose family faces investigation by child protective services after their young daughter arrives at school with bruises. Drawn from the real Bodnariu family case and filmed in Hjørundfjorden, Norway, the film carries a production budget of €4.7 million across six co-producing countries. Pete Hammond, writing in Deadline, called it "a fiercely intelligent and gripping movie that finds its power in providing no easy answers."
Fjord holds a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score from 56 critics and an 82 on Metacritic. Neon handles U.S. distribution. The Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature Film will be announced December 15, with nominations following January 21, 2027.
