Australian documentary about modern nomadic Mongolians nominated for 2026 Oscars
The Mongolian-themed documentary The Wolves Always Come at Night, representing the Commonwealth of Australia, has been officially nominated for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, Montsame reported.
Directed by Australian filmmaker Gabrielle Brady, the film was selected from among 16 submissions made by Australia this year. It portrays the lives of modern nomadic Mongolians, capturing their struggles and resilience through intimate, real-life stories. It premiered at the 2024 Ulaanbaatar Film Festival.
Produced over five years, the film is a collaborative effort between Australia’s Over Here, Germany’s Chromosom films, and Mongolia’s Guru Media. Shot entirely in Mongolia, the production involved creative and technical contributions from Mongolia, Australia, Germany, the United States, Colombia, and the United Kingdom.
The documentary The Wolf Comes at Night follows a Mongolian herding family forced to migrate to the city after a devastating sandstorm. The film features real-life couple Davaasuren Dagvasuren and his wife Otgonzaya Dashzeveg, residents of Buutsagaan soum in Bayankhongor aimag, as they confront the heartbreaking impact of climate change and urban migration on their traditional nomadic way of life.
The film has achieved acclaim on the global stage:
- Premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
- Winner of the Grand Prix at the Alpin International Film Festival (AIFF) in Romania
- Regular participant in prestigious events such as the Sydney Film Festival (SFF) and the EU-Asia Documentary Film Festival (EADFF) in Hong Kong
- Most recently awarded Best Documentary at the 12th Silk Road International Film Festival in Fuzhou, China
Earlier, it was reported that Kazakhstan nominated the film Cadet for the 2026 Academy Awards.
