#Oscars2025 International Feature Film Shortlist

Yesterday The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlist for the International Feature Film category and even when there are some expected films, there are others that surprised me. Sigh.

Was hoping for Emilia Pérez to be in the list because believe it's a great innovative film and Jaques Audiard, one of my favorite contemporary directors deserve all the accolades for this movie. What I was not expecting is the list to contain a film by another of my favorite directors, Baltasar Kormákur with his film Touch that still have just because is his film.

Somehow knew The Seed of the Sacred Fig was going to be on the list and unfortunately the other non-English film with strong buzz All We Imagine as Light cannot make the list as another film was submitted by India. Other films expected to be on the list are I'm Still Here, Kneecap, The Girl with the Needle and Vermiglio. Wasn't sure if Flow would make it to this list as was hoping that film gets a nomination in the Animation category; still hope Flow gets a nomination in Animation category, as here there are too-many extremely good films competing for a spot in the nominations.

Not expected by me are films submitted by Czech Republic, Palestine, Thailand and UK. I doubted Dahomey could make it to the list but I'm glad it did; but a more pleasant surprise is Dahomey also in the Documentary Shortlist, a category where could get a nomination easier than in here.

Wasn't expecting Norway nor Canada but from buzz these films have a good opportunity of getting a nomination. We'll see what happens as Armand has extremely high-cinema lineage (Ingmar Bergman grandson) and Un Langue Universelle seems to be really deadpan insane, like those Scandinavian films that make me go crazy with joy.

As we can see almost all films have been in a top film festival where some won major accolades. In the list are the #Berlinale2024 Golden Bear winner Mati Diop's Dahomey, #Cannes2024 Jury Prize Winner Jacques Audiard's Emilia Pérez, #Cannes2024 Best Director Special Award to Mohammad Rasoulof for The Seed of the Sacred Fig, #Cannes2024 Camera d'Or winner Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel's Armand, #Venezia81 Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize winner Maura Delpero's Vermiglio, and #Venezia81 Best Screenplay Award winner Walter Salles' I'm Still Here.

Just from the three major film festivals there is one from Berlin, two from Venice and seven films from Cannes. Other film festivals with representation are Sundance and Karlovy Vary. Only 3 films were not screened at a film festival (Iceland, Thailand and Palestine).

Fifteen films will advance to the next round of voting to define the five (5) nominees. In this round Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.

Voting begins on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 and concludes on Sunday, January 12, 2025. Nominations for the 2025 Oscars will be announced on Friday, January 17, 2025.

The Shortlist of Fifteen

Brazil: Ainda estou aqui (I'm Still Here), Walter Sallers #Venezia81 Competition Best Screenplay award, Signis award. and Green Drop award winner #BiennaleCinema2024

Canada: آواز بوقلمون Une Langue Universelle (Universal Language), Matthew Rankin #Quinzaine2024 Audience award winner #Cannes2024
Czech Republic: Vlny (Waves), Jirí Mádl #KVIFF58 Audience Award winner

Denmark: Pigen med nålen (The Girl with the Needle), Magnus von Horn #Cannes2024 Competition

France: Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard #Cannes2024 Competition Jury Prize winner, Best Actress award winner, and Cannes Soundtrack award winner

Germany: دانه‌ی انجیر معابد Daneh Anjeer Moghadas (The Seed of the Sacred Fig), Mohammad Rasoulof #Cannes2024 Competition Jury Special Prize, FIPRESCI Award, Ecumenical Award, AFCAE Art House Cinema Award, and Prix François Chalais winner

Iceland: Snerting (Touch), Baltasar Kormákur
Ireland: Kneecap, Rich Peppiatt #Sundance2024 NEXT Audience Award winner
Italy: Vermiglio, Maura Delpero #Venezia81 Competition Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize winner #CinemaBiennale2024 Green Drop award, Pellicola d'Oro Chief Electrician award, and Nouvoimaei Talent Best Newcomer Actress award winner

Latvia: Straume (Flow), Gints Zilbalodis #Cannes2024 #UnCertainRegard (animation)

Norway: Armand, Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel #UnCertainRegard #Cannes2024 Camera d'Or winner and Best Soundtrack award winner

Palestine: من المسافة صفر From Ground Zero, 22 directors: Wissam Moussa, Nidal Damo, Ahmed Hassouna, Alaa Ayoub, Karim Satoum, Bashar Al Babisi, Khamis Masharawi, Nida’A Abu Hasna, Tamer Nijim, Ahmed Al Danaf, Rima Mahmoud, Muhammad Al Sharif, Basil El Maqousi, Mustafa Al Nabih, Rabab Khamis, Mustafa Kulab, Alaa Damo, Hana Eleiwa, Mahdi Kreirah, Aws Al Banna, Islam Al Zeriei, Etimad Washah (shorts omnibus documentary)

Senegal: Dahomey, Mati Diop (documentary) #Berlinale2024 Golden Bear for Best Film winner

Thailand: หลานม่า Lahn mah (How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies), Pat Boonnitipat

United Kingdom: Santosh, Sandhya Suri #UnCertainRegard Competition #Cannes2024

To check the list of fifteen, as well as the other 9 categories shortlist go here.

The 97th Oscars will be hed on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and airs live in more than 200 territories worldwide.