Weighing in on the Foreign Language Film contenders has become a sort of tradition for me at AD. Of course my commendable efforts to try and watch as many of the films as possible pales in comparison to Nathaniel Rogers’ current project/obsession over at The Film Experience, where he’s literally trying to watch all 81 submissions. When I bump into …
The race for Best Foreign Language Film is as heated as it’s ever been this year. Movies from countries like Ukraine, Sweden, Canada, Turkey, France and Italy are in a heated race for the gold, but only a single film will emerge as the winner. Having covered more than 5 major film festivals this year I’ve had the chance to …
The Academy has vetted the list of submissions for Best Foreign Language Film and found a couple of titles that it deems ineligible. Variety reports: The most notable rejection was director Agnieszka Holland’s “Burning Bush,” which was submitted by the Czech Republic but disallowed because it was made for and premiered on HBO Europe. The Czech Republic was allowed to …
A bit behind the curve on this news, I posted the trailer for Fedor Bondarchuk’s Stalingrad a few days ago without knowing it had been announced last week as Russia’s official Oscar candidate. Russian film director Fyodor Bondarchuk on Wednesday presented the Moscow premiere of his World War II drama Stalingrad, an epic about one of the bloodiest battles in …
thanks to @Pokernatic
Deadline is reporting that Palme d’Or winner Blue is the the Warmest Color will miss the window of opportunity to be eligible as France’s Oscar submission. The Oscar rep selection committee at French film body the CNC requires that a film go out nationally in France before September 30 and Wild Bunch has set an October release. Wild Bunch’s Vincent …
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Nine films will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 85th Academy Awards®. Seventy-one films had originally qualified in the category. The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Austria, “Amour,” Michael Haneke, director Canada, “War Witch,” Kim Nguyen, director Chile, “No,” Pablo Larraín, director Denmark, “A …
In the past year, Omar Sy has gone from being a French comedy writer and actor, to a star known internationally for his dramatic performance in The Intouchables. In February of this year Sy won the Cesar Award (France’s Oscar) for Best Actor, beating out a group of actors including his co-star, legendary French actor Francois Cluzet, and Jean Dujardin …
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – A record 71 countries, including first-time entrant Kenya, have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 85th Academy Awards®. The 2012 submissions are: Afghanistan, “The Patience Stone,” Atiq Rahimi, director; Albania, “Pharmakon,” Joni Shanaj, director; Algeria, “Zabana!” Said Ould Khelifa, director; Argentina, “Clandestine Childhood,” Benjamín Ávila, director; Armenia, “If Only Everyone,” …
Ugh. In case you need a reminder what a government tangled up with religious fundamentalists would be like. (Jakarta Globe) Iran said on Monday it would boycott the 2013 Oscars to protest against the making of a crude anti-Islam video in the United States that has caused outrage throughout the Muslim world. Despite tough censorship and the repression of leading …
With three prestigious French language films in play this year, how did a crowd-pleasing international box-office phenomenon backed by Hervey Weinstein prevail? (That’s a rhetorical question). Scott Feinberg broke down the possibilities at THR shortly before France settled on The Intouchables earlier today. (1) The Intouchables, an $11.5 million dramedy, based on a true story, that was co-written and co-directed …
Germany’s official 2013 Foreign Language Film submission, directed by Christian Petzold, summarized by Alt Film Guide. Starring Nina Hoss, the political/romantic drama Barbara earned Petzold the Silver Bear for Best Director at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. Additionally, Barbara received seven nominations for the Lolas, the German Academy Awards, eventually winning the runner-up trophy for Best Film… Set in 1980s …
Believe the raves. Elite Squad: The Enemy Within lives up to these promo quotes.
Updated via press release. Beverly Hills, CA – Sixty-three countries, including first-time entrant New Zealand, have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 84th Academy Awards®. The 2011 submissions are: Albania, “Amnesty,” Bujar Alimani, director; Argentina, “Aballay,” Fernando Spiner, director; Austria, “Breathing,” Karl Markovics, director; Belgium, “Bullhead,” Michael R. Roskam, director; Bosnia and Herzegovina,”Belvedere,” Ahmed …
Thanks to our pal iggy for tipping us to Spain’s official Oscar submission, Pa Negre (Black Bread) which he summarizes thusly: a terrific (but not your typical) coming of age movie during Spanish Civil Post-War with an amazing female ensemble and dealing with sexual repression and homosexuality in times of oppression among other issues. For our Spanish-speaking readers, here’s a …
Finland’s Oscar selection jury today announced Aki Kaurismaki’s Le Havre as the country’s official Oscar submission. After its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Le Havre won the Fipresci prize and the special mention of the Ecumenical Jury. It was awarded best international film at the Munich Film Festival as it continues to rack up international honors. If Le …
(thanks to William Best)
(Thanks to JF) Poster after the cut.
From Oscar.org. Thanks to Kevin K. 65 countries vie for 2010 Foreign Language Film Oscar¬Æ Beverly Hills, CA (October 13, 2010) ‚Äî Sixty-five countries, including first-time entrants Ethiopia and Greenland, have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 83rd Academy Awards¬Æ. The 2010 submissions are: Albania, ‚ÄúEast, West, East,‚Äù Gjergj Xhuvani, director; Algeria, ‚ÄúHors la …
