The UK has selected Pegah Ahangarani’s Rehearsals For A Revolution as its official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, marking a significant moment for a filmmaker crafting her debut feature in exile. The documentary, which premiered in the Special Screenings section at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, won the L’Oeil d’Or — the festival’s top prize for best documentary, and went on to screen at both the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received standing ovations. The film traces more than four decades of Iranian history through Ahangarani’s personal journey after leaving her home country, weaving together intimate stories of relatives and mentors who embody resistance. Drawing from home videos, protest footage, newspapers, recorded voices, and private archives, she reconstructs a nation shaped by political repression and enduring hope for change. Ahangarani, 42, wrote, researched, and edited the film over two and a half years in London, working closely with a team of British collaborators. Her work was recognized recently with an Albie Award from the Maysles Documentary Center, an honor given to those who inspire through their art and through their commitment to social justice. Sony Pictures Classics, which acquired distribution rights across North America, Latin America, Asia (excluding Japan), New Zealand, Turkey, Portugal, and global airlines, confirmed that the film will begin qualifying runs in New York and Los Angeles in December 2026. It will then open exclusively at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles and the Film Forum in New York on January 8, 2027, before expanding to additional theatres across the United States in the following weeks. The UK’s selection comes amid growing momentum for the film, with industry observers noting its emotional depth and formal precision. According to Sony Pictures Classics, the recognition in the Best International Feature category “has the potential to be truly transformative,” opening doors to global audiences and spotlighting Ahangarani’s voice as a vital presence in contemporary cinema. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the shortlist of 15 films on December 15, 2026, with the five nominees revealed on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027. Whether the film secures a nomination remains uncertain, but its path so far suggests it’s no longer just a personal reckoning. It’s becoming a public one.