Say Hello to This Year’s 59 Movies Submitted for Best Foreign Language Film
Understandably, we're going to spend a lot of time over the next few months talking about the Academy Awards, focusing on Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and the other major prizes. But that doesn't mean we tackle all the Oscar categories with the same intensity: For instance, there probably isn't as much reader interest in the Best Foreign Language Film award. That's too bad because there are great films in that category -- ones that could use the extra attention. And unlike the other categories, we actually know right now who's in the running for it. Countries had to submit their entry by Monday, which gives us this year's crop of 59 movies that are eligible. Many of these you'll never hear about again, but a select few you will.
First, a quick rundown of the rules. Each country is allowed to put forward only one film. So if you're a filmmaking powerhouse like Italy or Spain, you've only got one film, the same as smaller filmmaking hubs like Macedonia. This causes controversy every year when bigger-name directors, such as Pedro Almodovar, get passed over for lesser-known names, but, hey, there's nothing that the Academy or we can do about that: It's that country's call.
From the list of 59 movies, the field will be narrowed down to a shortlist. If we understand the process correctly, a general committee votes on the entries, and the highest-rated movies make the cut. Then, a separate executive committee picks an additional few titles that weren't chosen by the general committee. (This is done to make sure more artistic and accomplished -- but also divisive -- films get in as well.) That will happen in January, though, so for now, let's just tip our hat to the 59 films. And let's also thank HitFix's Guy Lodge for kindly compiling the whole list.
If you don't recognize many of these, don't worry: We don't either. Some, like "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia," were huge hits at Cannes and other film festivals but have only started to screen elsewhere. But at this time last year, a lot of people hadn't heard of "Dogtooth" either. Then the Greek satire-drama became one of the five nominees, which helped boost its U.S. profile. Maybe there's a "Dogtooth" on this list. We won't know until we get a little deeper into awards season.
Best Foreign Language Film entries
Albania - "The Forgiveness of Blood"
Argentina - "Aballay"
Austria - "Breathing"
Belgium - "Bullhead"
Bosnia and Herzegovina - "Belvedere"
Brazil - "Elite Squad 2″
Bulgaria - "Tilt"
Canada - "Monsieur Lazhar"
Chile - "Violeta"
China - "The Flowers of War"
Colombia - "The Colors of the Mountain"
Croatia - "72 Days"
Cuba - "Habanastation"
Czech Republic - "Alois Nebel"
Denmark - "SuperClasico"
Egypt - "Lust"
Finland - "Le Havre"
France - "Declaration of War"
Georgia - "Chantrapas"
Germany - "Pina"
Greece - "Attenberg"
Hong Kong - "A Simple Life"
Hungary - "The Turin Horse"
Iceland - "Volcano"
India - "Adaminte Makan Abu"
Iran - "A Separation"
Ireland - "As If I Am Not There"
Israel - "Footnote"
Italy - "Terraferma"
Japan - "Postcard"
Lebanon - "Where Do We Go Now?"
Lithuania - "Back in Your Arms"
Macedonia - "Punk's Not Dead"
Mexico - "Miss Bala"
Morocco - "Omar Killed Me"
Netherlands - "Sonny Boy"
New Zealand - "The Orator"
Norway - "Happy, Happy"
Peru - "October"
Philippines - "The Woman in the Septic Tank"
Poland - "In Darkness"
Portugal - "José and Pilar"
Romania - "Morgen"
Russia - "Burnt by the Sun 2: Citadel"
Serbia - "Montevideo, God Bless You!"
Singapore - "Tatsumi"
Slovakia - "Gypsy"
Slovenia - "Silent Sonata"
South Africa - "Beauty"
South Korea - "The Front Line"
Spain - "Black Bread"
Sweden - "Beyond"
Switzerland - "Summer Games"
Taiwan - "Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale"
Thailand - "Kon Khon"
Turkey - "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia"
Uruguay - "The Silent House"
Venezuela - "The Rumble of the Stones"
Vietnam - "Thang Long Aspiration"
