The film "Sanatorium" (Sanatorium) directed by Irish filmmaker Gar O'Rourke, shot 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, originally from Galway (Ireland), serves as the director, with producers Andrew Friedman, Ken Wardrop, and Samantha Corr. The film tells the story of the "Kuyalnik" sanatorium near Odessa, built in the 1970s, which serves as both a hotel and a medical center amidst the ongoing war. The world premiere of "Sanatorium" took place at the end of March at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival. The film subsequently participated in various international festivals, including Visions Du Reel in Switzerland, the Edinburgh International Film Festival, DocuDays UA, and the Melbourne International Film Festival, where it won the award for "Best Irish Feature Documentary 2025".

The film will be released in Irish cinemas on September 5. The shortlist of international feature films eligible for the "Oscar-2026" will be announced on December 16, with the final nominees revealed on January 22, 2026.