Sentimental Value Wins Best International Feature Oscar

Sentimental Value is the seventh Norwegian film nominated for the best international feature Oscar. The film, directed by Joachim Trier, has garnered significant acclaim since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, where it won the Grand Prix.

On March 16, 2026, it was announced that Sentimental Value won the Oscar for best international feature at the 98th Academy Awards, making it the first Norwegian film to achieve this prestigious honor. The film received a total of nine Oscar nominations, highlighting its impact on the international film scene.

In addition to its Oscar win, Sentimental Value also secured the award for Best Film Not in the English Language at the BAFTAs and has won six European Film Awards. The film features a talented cast, including Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning, and Anders Danielsen Lie.

Joachim Trier expressed his gratitude upon receiving the Oscar, stating, “Oh my goodness. Thank you so much. I’m just a film nerd from Norway.” His directorial work has been praised, with the Norwegian Oscar Committee recognizing him as a confident and assured filmmaker.

The film explores themes of estranged families and the reconciliatory power of art, focusing on a dysfunctional family and a father-daughter relationship. Critics have lauded it as a “profoundly resonant family drama for grown-ups,” with Rotten Tomatoes noting its assured restraint in exploring human emotions.

Sentimental Value has achieved an IMDb rating of 7.8/10 based on over 60,000 votes, indicating a strong reception from audiences. David Rooney remarked that, “As always with Trier’s films, its depth of feeling sneaks up on you without announcing itself.”

As the film continues to receive accolades, observers are keen to see how this historic win will influence the future of Norwegian cinema and the international film landscape.