The complete lineup of competitors in the Oscar foreign-language film category has been released by the Academy. It includes 65 films, two shy of last year’s record.
The Phase I Committee, which is made up of volunteers from any branch of the Academy, will view and rate the films, narrowing them down to six finalists. A more selective group, the Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, will add three of its own choices (typically, more adventurous films) to make up a nine-film shortlist. Those nine films will be then screened by other, specially selected committees to come up with the final group of five nominees.
If the process goes the way it usually does, various controversies are bound to ensue.
The full list, with each film’s country and director:
Albania, “Alive!,” Artan Minarolli
Argentina, “El Secreto de Sus Ojos,” Juan Jose Campanella
Armenia, “Autumn of the Magician,” Rouben Kevorkov and Vaheh Kevorkov
Australia, “Samson & Delilah,” Warwick Thornton
Austria, “For a Moment Freedom,” Arash T. Riahi
Bangladesh, “Beyond the Circle,” Golam Rabbany Biplob
Belgium, “The Misfortunates,” Felix van Groeningen
Bolivia, “Zona Sur,” Juan Carlos Valdivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Nightguards,” Namik Kabil
Brazil, “Time of Fear,” Sergio Rezende
Bulgaria, “The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner,” Stephan Komandarev
Canada, “I Killed My Mother,” Xavier Dolan
Chile, “Dawson, Isla 10,” Miguel Littin
China, “Forever Enthralled,” Chen Kaige
Colombia, “The Wind Journeys,” Ciro Guerra
Croatia, “Donkey,” Antonio Nuic
Cuba, “Fallen Gods,” Ernesto Daranas
Czech Republic, “Protektor,” Marek Najbrt
Denmark, “Terribly Happy,” Henrik Ruben Genz
Estonia, “December Heat,” Asko Kase
Finland, “Letters to Father Jacob,” Klaus Haro
France, “Un Prophete,” Jacques Audiard,
Georgia, “The Other Bank,” George Ovashvili
Germany, “The White Ribbon,” Michael Haneke
Greece, “Slaves in Their Bonds,” Tony Lykouressis
Hong Kong, “Prince of Tears,” Yonfan
Hungary, “Chameleon,” Krisztina Goda
Iceland, “Reykjavik-Rotterdam,” Oskar Jonasson
India, “Harishchandrachi Factory,” Paresh Mokashi
Indonesia, “Jamila and the President,” Ratna Sarumpaet
Iran, “About Elly,” Asghar Farhadi
Israel, “Ajami,” Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani
Italy, “Baaria,” Giuseppe Tornatore
Japan, “Nobody to Watch over Me,” Ryoichi Kimizuka
Kazakhstan, “Kelin,” Ermek Tursunov
Korea, “Mother,” Joon-ho Bong
Lithuania, “Vortex,” Gytis Luksas
Luxembourg, “Refractaire,” Nicolas Steil
Macedonia, “Wingless,” Ivo Trajkov
Mexico, “Backyard,” Carlos Carrera
Morocco, “Casanegra,” Nour-Eddine Lakhmari
The Netherlands, “Winter in Wartime,” Martin Koolhoven
Norway, “Max Manus,” Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning
Peru, “The Milk of Sorrow,” Claudia Llosa
Philippines, “Grandpa Is Dead,” Soxie H. Topacio
Poland, “Reverse,” Borys Lankosz
Portugal, “Doomed Love,” Mario Barroso
Puerto Rico, “Kabo and Platon,” Edmundo H. Rodriguez
Romania, “Police, Adjective,” Corneliu Porumboiu
Russia, “Ward No. 6,” Karen Shakhnazaro
Serbia, “St. George Shoots the Dragon,” Srdjan Dragojevic
Slovakia, “Broken Promise,” Jiri Chlumsky
Slovenia, “Landscape No. 2,” Vinko Moderndorfer
South Africa, “White Wedding,” Jann Turner
Spain, “The Dancer and the Thief,” Fernando Trueba
Sri Lanka, “The Road from Elephant Pass,” Chandran Rutnam
Sweden, “Involuntary,” Ruben Ostlund
Switzerland, “Home,” Ursula Meier
Taiwan, “No Puedo Vivir sin Ti,” Leon Dai
Thailand, “Best of Times,” Yongyoot Thongkongtoon
Turkey, “I Saw the Sun,” Mahsun Kirmizigul
United Kingdom, “Afghan Star,” Havana Marking
Uruguay, “Bad Day for Fishing,” Alvaro Brechner
Venezuela, “Libertador Morales, El Justiciero,” Efterpi Charalambidis
Vietnam, “Don’t Burn It,” Dang Nhat Minh