Yesterday the Academy announced the 65 films that will be considered for the Foreign Language Film category.If you feel like reading the official press release go here.
These are the films.
Albania: Gjallë (Alive), Artan Minarolli
Argentina: El Secreto de Sus Ojos, Juan José Campanella
Armenia: Հրաշագործի աշունը (Autumn of the Magician), Ruben Gevorkyants & Vahe Gevorkyants
Australia: Samson and Delilah, Warwick Thorton
Austria: Ein Augenblick Freiheit (For a Moment, Freedom), Arash T. Riahi
Bangladesh: Britter Bairey (Beyond the Circle), Golam Rabbani Biplob
Belgium: De helaasheid der dingen (The Misfortunates), Felix van Groeningen
Bolivia: Zona Sur, Juan Carlos Valdivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Čuvari noći (Guardians of the Night aka Nightguards), Namik Kabil
Brazil: Salve Geral (Time of Fear), Sérgio Rezende
Bulgaria: Светът е голям и спасение дебне отвсякъде Svetat e golyam i spasenie debne otvsyakade (The World is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner), Stephan Komandarev
Canada: J'ai tué ma mère (I Killed my Mother), Xavier Dolan
Chile: Dawson Isla 10 (Dawson Island 10), Miguel Littin
China: 梅兰芳 Mei Lanfang (Forever Enthralled), Chen Kaige
Colombia: Los Viajes del Viento (The Wind Journeys),Ciro Guerra
Croatia: Kenjac (Donkey), Antonio Nuić
Cuba: Los Dioses Rotos (Fallen Gods), Ernesto Daranas
Czech Republic: Protektor (Protector), Marek Najbrt
Denmark: Frygtelig lykkelig (Terribly Happy),Henrik Ruben Genz
Estonia: Detsembrikuumus (December Heat), Asko Kase
Finland: Postia pappi Jaakobille (Letters to Father Jacob), Klaus Härö
France:Un Prophète (A Prophet), Jacques Audiard (It had to be!!! Bravo!!!)
Georgia: გაღმა ნაპირი Gagma Napiri (The Other Bank), Giorgi Ovashvili
Germany: Das weiße Band (The White Ribbon), Michael Haneke
Greece: Οι Σκλάβοι στα Δεσμά τους Oi sklavoi sta desma tous (Slaves in Their Bonds), Tony Lykouressis
Hong Kong: 淚王子 (Prince of Tears), Yonfan
Hungary: Kaméleon (Chameleon), Krisztina Goda
Iceland: Reykjavik-Rotterdam, Oskar Jonasson
India: हरिश्चंद्राची फॅक्टरी Harishchandrachi Factory, Paresh Mokashi
Indonesia: Jamila dan Sang Presiden (Jamila and the President), Ratna Sarumpaet
Iran: درباره الی Darbareye Elly (About Elly), Asghar Farhadi
Israel: עג'מי Ajami, Yaron Shani ans Scandar Copti
Italy: Baarìa, Giuseppe Tornatore
Japan: 誰も守ってくれない Dare mo mamotte kurenai (Nobody to Watch Over Me), Ryoichi Kimizuka
Kazakhstan: Келін (Kelin), Ermek Tursunov
Lithuania: Duburys (Vortex), Gytis Luksas
Luxembourg: Réfractaire, Nicolas Steil
Macedonia: Созерцание Ocas jesterky (Wingless), Ivo Trajkov
Mexico: El Traspatio (Backyard), Carlos Carrera
Morroco: Casanegra, Nour Eddine Lakhmari
Netherlands: Oorlogswinter (Winter in Wartime), Martin Koolhoven
Norway: Max Manus, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg
Peru: La Teta Asustada (The Milk of Sorrow), Claudia Llosa
Philippines: De na si lolo (Grandpa Is Dead), Soxie Topacio
Poland: Rewers (Reverse), Borys Lankosz
Portugal: Um Amor de Perdição (Doomed Love), Mário Barroso
Puerto Rico: Kabo y Platón (Kabo and Platon), Edmundo H Rodriguez
Romania: Politist, Adjectiv (Police, Adjetive), Corneliu Prumboiu
Russia: Палата №6 Palata N°6 (Ward No. 6), Aleksandr Gornovsky and Karen Shakhnazarov
Serbia: Свети Георгије убива аждаху Sveti Georgije ubiva azdahu (St. George Slays The Dragon), Srdjan Dragojevic
Slovakia: Nedodržaný sľub (Broken Promise), Jirí Chlumský
Slovenia: Pokrajina Št. 2 (Landscape No. 2), Vinko Moderndorfer
South Africa: White Wedding, Jann Turner
South Korea: 마더 (Mother), Bong Joon-ho
Spain: El Baile de la Victoria (The Dancer and the Thief), Fernando Trueba
Sri Lanka: Alimankada Sita (The Road from Elephant Pass), Chandran Rutnam
Sweden: De Ofrivilliga (Involuntary), Ruben Östlund
Switzerland: Home, Ursula Meier
Taiwan: 不能沒有你 (No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti), Leon Dai
Thailand: ความจำสั้น แต่รักฉันยาว Kwam Jam San Tae Rak Chan Yao (Best of Times), Youngyooth Thongkongthun
Turkey: Güneşi Gördüm (I Saw the Sun), Mahsun Kırmızıgül
UK: Afghan Star, Havana Marking
Uruguay: Mal Día Para Pescar (Bad Day For Fishing), Alvaro Brechner
Venezuela: Libertador Morales, El Justiciero, Efterpi Charalambidis
Vietnam: Đừng đốt (Don't Burn It), Nhat Minh Dang
The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater; but before the Academy announces the short list of 9 films.
To watch available trailers go Movie On Companion
News
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 96 countries to submit their top film for consideration as a possible Best Foreign Language Film nominee.
About The Netherlands
Original entry, "The Silent Army," reportedly fell short of the Academy's rules that require films be original works and not new versions of an existing motion picture. "Silent" is the recut, international version of Jean van de Velde's 2008 film "Wit Licht," about child soldiers in Africa.
The Acad officially ruled this week that "Silent" was disqualified. According to the submitting org, Holland Film, the Acad noted that this was the first time a pic submitted to the foreign language category had been disqualified for this reason and that the committee members had had differing views on the decision.
Last News
New to the list Cuba and Puerto Rico. Mongolia is out! Sri Lanka and Greece have a different film.
Great post! - I'll be checking back for additional submissions over the next few weeks. Totally agree that A Prophet is clearly destined for the top 5. My guess (ill informed as it is) that it's got a good shot of taking the whole thing. Have also seen Germany's submission (The White Ribbon) which is also fantastic. Less coverage on most of the others though I've seen one of the Iranian contenders (About Elly).
ReplyDeleteI'm from Argentina and in Latin America regarding my predictions are: from Argentina will secure "the secret of your eyes" of Juan Jose Campanella, "the Berlinale winner from Uruguay" giant ", is safe from Mexico" desert inside " rodrigo pla
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. Gigante from Uruguay seems like a safe guess - and I think it should be a strong contender for top 5 placement.
ReplyDelete@Rich, I'm so looking forward to watch The White Ribbon and hope that is another fantastic great cinema experience. Lucky you that have seen it already!
ReplyDeleteThis year haven't seen many movies in this list (as a matter of fact, still have many unseen in last year's list), but I hope I'll be able to watch the 9 in the short list and obviously the 5 nominated before the Academy ceremony.
@ Argentinean anonymous, your predictions seems quite good... unfortunately haven't seen any, so it's hard for me to guess. Surely big awards means big chances to be the official submission, but we have to remember that "politics" also play a role lol! If not, see what's happening in Philippines with Brillante Mendoza's Lola! ;)
Okay, I'll share three movies that I know HAVE to be in the short list of 9 films:
ReplyDeleteFrance: A Prophet
Israel: Lebanon
Germany: The White Ribbon
But, these are festival circuit favorites... the Academy still can give us surprises, if not repeating the fiasco with the GREAT Romanian movie that was omitted from the 9 and 5 lists...
Hmm... think that now I understand why Anonymous from Argentina chose Campanella's film for the prediction... take a look at an article
ReplyDeleteBUENOS AIRES -- Argentine films are beating Hollywood pics at the local box office thanks to big names and strong word of mouth.
"El secreto de sus ojos" (The Secret in Their Eyes) held first for a fifth week in the Sept. 10-16 recording period, earning 3.14 million pesos ($821,180) on 113 screens, according to B.O. tracker Ultracine.
"The Secret," directed by Juan Jose Campanella, is about a man trying to solve a 30-year-old murder. Distributed by Buenos Aires-based Distribution Co., the pic has amassed $4.83 million to become the hottest domestic film of the year.
Marcelo Pineyro's "Las viudas de los jueves" (The Widows of Thursdays) placed second in its opening, earning $620,214 from 92 screens. "Widows," distributed by Argentina's Alfa Films, is about rich families trying to keep things together despite murders and a financial crisis.
The local contingent bested Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds" and "My Bloody Valentine," both of which slipped a spot to third and fourth in their second weeks, fetching $246,119 and $178,761, respectively.
In fifth came homegrown comedy "Papa por un dia" (Father for a Day) with $129,673, taking its six-week total to $1.5 million.
Local pics have not seen such success at the Argentine B.O. since September 2005, when "El aura" (The Dawn), "Tiempo de valientes" (On Probation) and "Iluminados por el fuego" (Blessed by Fire) held the top three spots, with "Elsa and Fred" not far behind. Though Hollywood usually dominates with 80%-90% of B.O. receipts, local pics took 58% during this sesh, according to Ultracine.
Oh - cool. Just realized I've also seen the submissions from Taiwan (No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti) and Sweden (Involuntary) earlier this year - Just 60 or so more to go ;-)
ReplyDeleteGosh Rich, you have seen a lot more than me! LOL! and so many more WE haven't seen ... yet. ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah - it's truly humbling to see how many great films are being submitted that I haven't even gotten close to a chance to see. Thanks for pointing out 'Home' was submitted from Switzerland. So another one for me. :-)
ReplyDeleteThough to be fair - you seem to be doing pretty great in seeing a lot of films. ;-) One way to do a huge catchup if you can manage it is to attend the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January where they seem to have a special focus on screening as many of the Oscar submissions as possible.
OK - enough blogging - back to work...
Yes, I try to watch as much movies as I can from non-traditional countries... and when I find a director that really blows my mind, is when I get very excited!!! and try to find everything by him/her.
ReplyDeleteI've been following Palm Springs fest for a few years and know they usually screen many movies from this list before the Academy Show. Perhaps next year I'll go. ;)
Do let me know if you do decide to go. I went last year and I'm leaning towards going again this year. I really enjoy that festival - in part because the weather is so nice, but also because they have some of the most comfortable, high quality screening facilities. But also again because the weather is so nice in Jan there. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhere would you be traveling from BTW?
Been enjoying all your reviews. Just read your review of A Prophet. Glad you liked it as much as I did - great writeup for it.
I'll try if possible, as every January usually go to the good old USA and perhaps I will "steal" some days to stop by sunny Palm Springs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for what you mention about the reviews as is great to know when people agree with you and/or like what you say! Hope you continue to explore the blog, there are some very good movies from all over the world, that perhaps you haven't seen ;)
The new Bolivian movie "Zona Sur" could be one of the best movies of the century......... Ninon Del Castillo is outstanding!!!!! The director is incredible!!!! No words!!!
ReplyDelete"Zona Sur" is 100% real........ Tells the Bolivian story as it is!! Top 5 no questions asked!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'll watch it! and will be the first ever film from Bolivia that I've seen. Thanks for pointing out with so much pasion this film. ;)
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ReplyDeleteTurkish film Güneşi Gördüm; (I Saw the Sun), written and directed by singer Mahsun Kırmızıgüll, will represent Turkey in next year's Academy Awards
ReplyDeleteKırmızıgül, who is very pleased of his film’s success, said: “I thank millions of people who watched the film. It is very nice to be a nominee for the Oscar, but we have lots of things to do. This is just the beginning. We are aware of lobbies for Oscar nominations. This film tells the story of everyone in Turkey. This film belongs to each of us.”
Story of the film
The film’s theme is around Altun family. Haydar and Isa Altun arrive with their respective families in Istanbul, where they decide to stay. But Davut Altun, his wife and children set their sights further afield and travel on to Norway.
Spanning a period of 25 years, the film recounts the experiences of the three families as they struggle to find their feet in alien surroundings. It is a film that condemns all of discrimination or otherization and argues that war, fighting and contempt for anyone unlike oneself are the very problem itself.
http://www.gunesigordum.com/
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gunesigordum.com/gunes_en.html
Thanks for the info and link. You can also watch the trailer at Movie On Companion. ;)
ReplyDeleteok..thanks;)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"I Saw The Sun"
ReplyDeleteMy breath was taken away when the film ended. I could not stand up from the seat. I experienced storms in my soul which I could not easily get over while I was watching the human tragedy of my beautiful country without inhaling 112minutes. When the lights were on, I felt the heavy bulk of living the trouble on my shoulders. I felt sick and tired. I was so stunned with the film that it gave such an open glance of my beautiful country’s problems, that I sensed myself as a helpless one. I never experienced such an earthquake even in Hollywood films. I am sure that this man who has surpassed Turkish movie’s dimensions extraordinarily, will present lots of significant masterpieces to the world movie. His moving forth to Oscar one day will not be a surprise for me. He is a movie genius
The Bolivian film that is competing for the 2009 foreign language film Oscar is Zona Sur (http://www.zonasurfilm.com). This film has been a blockbuster in Bolivia. And it is the first time that there are so many reviews and articles written about a movie in Bolivia, there are a lot of positive reviews (almost all of them) and a wealth of articles in newspapers, magazines, blogs and websites. It is a fresh and risky proposal that is also competing in the Tokyo International Film Festival.
ReplyDeleteI saw Zona Sur yesterday during the 2nd exhibition´s day of the Tokio International Film Festival, and It was an amazing sorprise! It a great movie that touched my heart. The social changes that it shows happened here after the second war! that´s why it´s really easy to understand it and to feel that that´s our story too. Good luck to this Bolivian movie!
ReplyDeleteGee, I'm becoming really curious about the Bolivian film... hope to be able to watch it ASAP. Thanks for all your comments.
ReplyDeleteJust got a comments post on my blog I wanted to share. It's from Ken Rudolph who's a member of the Academy and a dedicated festival goer. He's always kept of log of what he's seen. This year he's got a dedicated page for his plan to try and see ALL of the foreign language submissions. He seems to be off to a huge start. Link is here - http://j.mp/32jEqH
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link Rich. I'm glad to learn that one member of the Academy is willing to watch all films. In the recent past the Foreign Language committee had a terrible omission in the short list that generated bad reaction in most media. I'm talking about the AMAZING Romanian movie, that I wonder how many committee members watched, as if they had they would have included at least with a nomination.
ReplyDeleteHopefully more members will emulate Ken and watch ALL the films. (I wouldn't mind to watch all for them... lol!) ;)
Harishchandrachi Factory from India has the biggest chances of winning Oscar 2010 Foreign film.
ReplyDeleteI saw the movie in New York. Its just superb! Great direction
I just saw WINTER IN WARTIME (Oorlogswinter), the Netherlands entry for Oscar best foreign film category and it is a gem; an exquisite and moving film from start to finish - a masterpiece! see it!
ReplyDeleteI gave up!
ReplyDeleteI was trying to find a post where I asked you how come that you can watch so many foreign films so soon? (did I ask?) I wish I could seen them sooner! before I know everything about the films!
at this point I haven't seen "La Teta asustada" and El secreto de tus ojos" ... how bad is that!! uggrr!
(I'll remember this post as I want to see watch the whole list!!)
ah!
ReplyDeleteThe colombian entry has the most amazing trailer!
haven't seen the film but from the trailer you can see how beautiful the film is!
Yes the Colombian entry seems visually interesting and hope the story is as well. Filmmakers and publicists share some films with me for my review. Thanks for visiting and welcome back!
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