2017 Oscars: FULL LIST of Foreign Language Film Oscar Submissions
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The first official Foreign Language Film Oscar submission for 2017 was Switzerland with My Life as a Courgette. The film is also in contention for Animated Feature and could make either or (less likely) both. The French stop-motion feature is adapted from a children’s novel about an orphan trying to adapt to life in a group home. The final films to submit were Malaysia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and China.
All submitted films must be first released theatrically in their respective countries between October 1st, 2015 and September 30th, 2016.
The deadline for submissions was October 3rd, 2016, with the Academy announcing a list of eligible films later this month. Nine finalists from among the dozens of entries will be shortlisted on January 17th, 2017, with the final five nominees being announced one week later on January 24th, 2017. The winner will be announced at the Oscar ceremony on February 26th, 2017.
Check out what the Gold Rush Gang thinks will make the Foreign Language Film shortlist here.
Some Trivia:
2016 will become the new record holder for eligible submissions in a single year with 85. There has so far been one disqualification – Austria. Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe aka Before the Dawn was deemed not Austrian enough due to an “imbalance of creative participation.”
13 countries have selected films directed by women (Austria, Bolivia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, Tunisia, and Uruguay)
3 submissions are documentary feature films: Luxembourg, New Zealand, and Ukraine.
1 submission is an animated feature film: Switzerland.
6 countries with submitted directors with films previously nominated in this category: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chile, Iran, Japan, Netherlands, and Spain.
1 debut country submitted this year, Yemen.
If Paul Verhoeven is nominated, he’ll join to a selective group of directors who have films nominated representing two different countries:
-Akira Kurosawa: Japan and the Soviet Union (WON for both countries)
-Luis Buñuel: France and Spain (WON for France)
-Miguel Littin: Mexico and Nicaragua
-Michael Haneke: Germany and Austria (WON for Austria)
-Carlos Saura: Spain and Argentina
-Agnieszka Holland: West Germany and Poland
-Zhang Yimou: China and Hong Kong
-Maximilian Schell: West Germany and Switzerland
-Moshé Mizrahi: Israel and France (WON for France)
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OFFICIAL Submission list for 2017 Foreign Language Film Oscar with distributor and trailer where available:
Afghanistan – Parting, by Navid Mahmoudi. (TBA). Trailer.
First time of Navid Mahmoudi. Afghanistan has submitted 11 times with zero results.
Albania – Chromium, by Bujar Alimani. (TBA). Trailer.
Second time for Bujar Alimani. Albania has submitted 10 times with zero results.
Algeria – The Well, by Lotfi Bouchouchi. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Lotfi Bouchouchi. Algeria has submitted 18 times, was nominated 5 times and won once (Z in 1969).
Argentina – The Distinguished Citizen, by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn. (Walt Disney Studios). Trailer.
First time for Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn. Argentina has submitted 43 times, was nominated 7 times and won twice (for The Official Story in 1985 and The Secret in Their Eyes in 2009). It remains the only Latin American country to ever win.
Armenia – Earthquake, by Sarik Andreasyan. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Sarik Andreasyan. Armenia has submitted 5 times resulting in zero nominations.
Australia – Tanna, by Bentley Dean and Martin Butler. (Lightyear Entertainment). Trailer.
First time for Dean and Butler. Australia has submitted 9 times, has never been nominated but made the shortlist once, in 2009.
Austria – Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe aka Before the Dawn, by Maria Schrader. (TBA). Trailer. – DISQUALIFIED
First time for Maria Schrader. Austria has submitted 39 times, has been nominated four times, has won twice (2007, 2012) and was disqualified once (in 2005).
Bangladesh – The Unnamed, by Tauquir Ahmed. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Tauquir Ahmed. Bangladesh has submitted 11 times with zero results.
Belgium – The Ardennes, by Robin Pront. (Film Movement). Trailer.
First time for Robin Pront. Belgium has submitted 41 times and was nominated 5 times but never won.
Bolivia – Sealed Cargo, by Julia Vargas Weise. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Julia Vargas Weise. Bolivia has submitted seven times but has been disqualified twice (2005 and 2007).
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Death in Sarajevo, by Danis Tanovíc. (TBA). Trailer.
Fourth time for Tanovíc. Bosnia has submitted 16 times, won once (No Man’s Land) and was on the shortlist once, both by Tanovíc.
Brazil – Little Secret, by Daniel Schumann. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for David Schurmann. Brazil has submitted 44 times, was nominated 4 times, was on the shortlist once (in 2007) but has never won.
Bulgaria – Losers, by Ivaylo Hristov. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Ivaylo Hristov. Bulgaria has submitted 27 times with zero results.
Canada – It’s Only the End of the World, by Xavier Dolan. (TBA). Trailer.
Third time for Xavier Dolan. Canada has submitted 41 times, made the shortlist twice, been nominated seven times and won once (The Barbarian Invasions – 2003)
Chile – Neruda, by Pablo Larraín. (The Orchard). Trailer.
Fourth time for Pablo Larraín. Chile has submitted 21 times and was nominated once, in 2012 (for Larraín’s No). Three of the last five Chilean submissions have been for Larraín films.
China – Xuan Zang, by Huo Jianqi. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Huo Jianqi. China has submitted 30 times and was nominated twice (for Ju Dou in 1990 and Hero in 2002, both from Zhang Yimou) but has never won.
Colombia – Alias Maria, by José Luis Rugeles Garcia. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for José Luis Rugeles Garcia. Colombia has submitted 24 times and was nominated last year for the first time (for Embrace of the Serpent).
Costa Rica – Entonces Nosotros (About Us), by Hernan Jimenez. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Hernan Jimenez. Costa Rica has submitted three times with zero nominations.
Croatia – On the Other Side, by Zrinko Ogresta. (TBA). Trailer.
Third time for Zrinko Ogresta. Croatia has submitted 24 times resulting in zero nominations.
Cuba – The Companion, by Pavel Giroud. (TBA). Trailer
Second time by Pavel Giroud. Cuba has submitted 19 times and was nominated once.
Czech Republic – Lost in Munich, by Petr Zelenka. (TBA). Trailer.
Second time for Petr Zelenka. Czech Republic has submitted 23 times since it became a separate state in 1993 (as Czechoslovakia it was nominated six times and won twice), has been nominated three times and won once (in 1996 for Kolya).
Denmark – Land of Mine, by Martin Zandvliet. (Sony Pictures Classics). Trailer.
First time for Martin Zandvliet. Denmark has submitted 53 times, has been nominated 11 times: Qivitoq (1958), Paw (1959), Harry and the Butler (1960), Babette’s Feast (1987), Pelle the Conqueror (1988), Memories of a Marriage (1989), After the Wedding (2006), In a Better World (2010), A Royal Affair (2012), The Hunt (2013) and A War (2015), and won three times: Babette’s Feast (1987), Pelle the Conqueror (1988) and In a Better World (2010).
Dominican Republic – Flor de Azúcar, by Fernando Báez. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Fernando Báez. The Dominican Republic has submitted eight times resulting in zero nominations.
Ecuador – Such is Life in the Tropics, by Sebastián Cordero. (TBA). Trailer.
Second time for Sebastián Cordero. Ecuador has submitted four times with zero nominations.
Egypt – Clash, by Mohamed Diab. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Mohamed Diab. Egypt has submitted 30 times but has never been nominated or on the shortlist.
Estonia – Mother, by Kadri Kõusaar. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Kadri Kõusaar. Estonia has submitted 14 times and was nominated once (Tangerines in 2014).
Finland – The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki, by Juho Kuosmanen. (MUBI). Trailer.
First time for Juho Kuosmanen. Finland has submitted 30 times, received one nomination (The Man Without a Past in 2002), was disqualified in 1996, withdrew their submission in 2006 and one shortlist mention (2015).
France – Elle, by Paul Verhoeven. (Sony Pictures Classics). Trailer.
First time for Paul Verhoeven. France has submitted 60 times, has been nominated 36 times and has won nine times (as well as received the Honorary Award three times before the Foreign Language Film category was in place).
Georgia – House of Others, by Rusudan Glurdjidze. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Rusudan Glurdjidze. Georgia has submitted 15 times, was nominated once and was on the shortlist once (2014).
Germany – Toni Erdmann, by Maren Ade. (Sony Pictures Classics). Trailer.
First time for Maren Ade. Germany (as a unified country) has submitted 26 times, was nominated 9 times, has won twice (Nowhere in Africa, The Lives of Others) and was on the shortlist three times.
Greece – Chevalier, by Athina Rachel Tsangari. (Strand Releasing). Trailer.
Second time for Athina Rachel Tsangari. Greece has submitted 35 times, has been nominated 5 times, but has never won.
Hong Kong – Port of Call, by Phillip Yung. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Phillip Yung. Hong Kong has submitted 35 times, was nominated twice and was on the shortlist once (in 2013).
Hungary – Kills on Wheels, by Attila Till. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Attila Till. Hungary has submitted 52 times, been nominated eight times, won twice (Mephisto in 1981 and Son of Saul just this year) and was in the shortlist once (in 2013).
Iceland – Sparrows, by Rúnar Rúnarsson. (TBA). Trailer.
Second time by Rúnar Rúnarsson. Iceland has submitted 37 times, was nominated once (Children of Nature in 1991) and was on the shortlist once (The Deep in 2012).
India – Visaranai, by Vetrimaaran. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Vetrimaaran. India (the biggest film industry of the world) has submitted 49 times, has been nominated three times but has never won.
Indonesia – Letters from Prague, by Angga Dwimas Sasongko. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Angga Dwimas Sasongko. Indonesia has submitted 18 times with zero results.
Iran – The Salesman, by Asghar Farhadi. (Amazon Studios/Cohen Media Group). Trailer.
Fourth time for Asghar Farhadi. Iran has submitted 21 times, been nominated twice and won once (2011’s A Separation, also by Farhadi).
Iraq – El Clasico, by Halkawt Mustafa. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Halkawt Mustafa. Iraq has submitted seven times resulting in zero nominations.
Israel – Sand Storm, by Elite Zexer. (Kino Lorber). Trailer.
First time for Elite Zexer. Israel has submitted 52 times and has been nominated 10 times but has never won.
Italy – Fire at Sea, by Gianfranco Rosi. (Kino Lorber). Trailer.
First time for Gianfranco Rosi. Italy has submitted 59 times (every single year since the category’s inception, except 1973), has been nominated 28 times and has won 14 times (more than any other country in history, including the first ever given). It was also given three Honorary Awards before the Foreign Language Film category was created in 1956.
Japan – Nagasaki: Memories of My Son (Living with my Mother), by Yoji Yamada. (TBA). Trailer.
Fifth submission for Yoji Yamada. Japan has submitted 63 times, every year since the inception of the Foreign Language Film award in 1951 except 1976 and was awarded three times before that with an Honorary Oscar. Japan has received 12 nominations but has won only once (for Departures in 2008) and made the shortlist in 2010.
Jordan – 3000 Nights, by Mai Masri. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Mai Masri. Jordan has submitted twice before was nominated last year (Theeb).
Kazakhstan – Amanat, by Satybaldy Narymbetov. (TBA).
First time for Satybaldy Narymbetov. Kazakhstan has submitted 11 times, was on the shortlist once (in 2009) and was nominated once (for Mongol, in 2007), making it the only central Asian country to be nominated for the Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Kosovo – Home Sweet Home, by Faton Bajraktari. (TBA)
First time for Faton Bajraktari. Kosovo has submitted two times with no nominations.
Kyrgyzstan – A Father’s Will, by Bakyt Muluj and Dastan Jaspar Uulu. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Bakyt Muluj and Dastan Jaspar Uulu. Kyrgyzstan has submitted 9 times with zero results.
Latvia – Ausma, by Laila Pakalniņa. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Laila Pakalniņa. Latvia has submitted 8 times with zero results.
Lebanon – A Very Big Shot, by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya. Lebanon has submitted 13 times with zero results.
Lithuania – Seneca’s Day, by Kristijonas Vildziunas. (TBA) Trailer.
Second time for Kristijonas Vildziunas. Lithuana has submitted eight times with zero results.
Luxembourg – Voices from Chernobyl, by Pol Cruchten. (TBA). Trailer.
Third time for Pol Crutchen. Luxembourg has submitted 12 times, has never been nominated and was disqualified once (in 2006).
Macedonia – The Liberation of Skopje, by Rade and Danilo Šerbedžija. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for directors Rade and Danilo Šerbedžija. Macedonia has submitted 13 times and was nominated once, for its first submission (Before the Rain – 1994).
Malaysia – Redha, by Tunku Mona Riza. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Tunku Mona Riza. Malaysia has submitted three times with zero nominations.
Mexico – Desierto, by Jonás Cuarón. (STX Entertainment). Trailer.
First time for Jonás Cuarón (son of Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuarón). Mexico has submitted 49 times, has been nominated 8 times and was on the shortlist once (in 2008).
Montenegro – The Black Pin, by Ivan Marinovic. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Ivan Marinovic. Montenegro has submitted three times with zero results.
Morocco – A Mile in My Shoes, by Said Khallaf. (TBA)
First time for Said Khallaf. Morocco has submitted 11 times, never been nominated but was on the shortlist in 2011.
Nepal – The Black Hen, by Min Bahadur Bham. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Min Bahadur Bham. Nepal has submitted seven times and was nominated in its first year of submission, 1999, for Caravan.
Netherlands – Tonio, by Paula van der Oest. (TBA). Trailer.
Third submission for Paula van der Oest. Netherlands has submitted 48 times, been nominated 7 times, won three times (1987, 1995, 1997), was disqualified twice (1988, 2005) and made the shortlist three times (2006, 2009, 2014).
New Zealand – A Flickering Truth, by Pietra Brettkelly. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Pietra Brettkelly. New Zealand has submitted three times with zero results.
Norway – The King’s Choice, by Erik Poppe. (TBA). Trailer.
Second time for Erik Poppe. Norway has submitted 37 times, been nominated five times but has yet to win.
Pakistan – Mah e Mir, by Anjum Shahzad. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Anjum Shahzad. Pakistan has submitted 6 times with zero results.
Palestine – The Idol, by Hany Abu-Assad. (Adopt Films). Trailer.
Third time for Hany Abu-Assad. Palestine has submitted 9 times and was nominated twice (For Hany Abu-Assad films).
Panama – Salsipuedes, by Ricardo Aguilar Gutierrez and Manolo Rodriguez.
First time for Ricardo Aguilar Gutierrez and Manolo Rodriguez. Panama has submitted 3 times with zero results.
Peru – Videophilia (and Other Viral Syndromes), by Juan Daniel Fernández. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Juan Daniel Fernández. Peru has submitted 23 times and was nominated once.
Philippines – Ma’ Rosa, by Brillante Mendoza. (TBA) Trailer.
First time for Brillante Mendoza. The Philippines have submitted 28 times resulting in zero nominations.
Poland –Afterimage, by Andrzej Wajda. (TBA). Trailer.
Eighth time for Andrzej Wajda. Poland has submitted 48 times, was nominated 10 times (four for Wajda’s films) 10 times and won once (Ida – 2014).
Romania – Sieranevada, by Cristi Puiu. (TBA). Trailer.
Second time for Cristi Piui. Romania has submitted 32 times with zero nominations, but it was on the shortlist once (in 2012).
Russia – Paradise, by Andrei Konchalovsky. (TBA). Trailer.
Second time for Andrei Konchalovsky. Since the end of the Soviet Union, Russia has submitted 24 times, was nominated 6 times and won once (Burnt by the Sun in 1994).
Saudi Arabia – Barakah meets Barakah, by Mahmoud Sabbagh. (TBA). Trailer.
First submission for Mahmoud Sabbagh. This is Saudi Arabia’s second submission, it was not nominated for its first.
Serbia – Train Driver’s Diary, by Miloša Radovića. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Miloša Radovića. Since the end of Yugoslavia, Serbia has submitted 23 times resulting in zero nominations but was on the shortlist once (In 2007).
Singapore – Apprentice, by Boo Junfeng. (Film Movement). Trailer.
Second time for Boo Junfeng (for last year’s 7 Letters, a co-directing effort). Singapore has submitted 9 times, has never been nominated and was disqualified once (in 2005).
Slovakia – Eva Nova, by Marko Škop. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Marko Škop. Since the end of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia has submitted 20 times with zero results.
Slovenia – Houston, We Have a Problem, by Ziga Virc. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Ziga Virc. Slovenia has submitted 20 times with zero results.
South Africa – Call Me Thief, byDaryne Joshua. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Daryne Joshua. South Africa has submitted 13 times, was nominated twice, won once (for Tsotsi in ) and was shortlisted once (in 2010).
South Korea – The Age of Shadows, by Kim Jee woon. (Warner Bros.) Trailer.
First time for Kim Jee woon. South Korea has submitted 28 times but has never been nominated.
Spain – Julieta, by Pedro Almodovar. (Sony Pictures Classics). Trailer.
Sixth time for Pedro Almodovar. Spain has submitted 59 times, has been nominated 19 times, won 4 times and was on shortlist twice (in 2006 and 2010).
Sweden – A Man Called Ove, by Hannes Holm. (Music Box Films). Trailer.
First time for Hannes Holm. Sweden has submitted 54 times, has been nominated 14 times and won three times (all for Ingmar Bergman films).
Switzerland – My Life as a Courgette, by Claude Barras. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Claude Barras. Switzerland has submitted 44 times, was nominated 5 times, won twice and was on the shortlist twice.
Taiwan – Lokah Laqi (Hang in There, Kids), by Laha Mebow.
First time for Laha Mebow. Taiwan has submitted 42 times, has been nominated three times (all from Ang Lee films), won once (also thanks to Ang Lee) and was on the shortlist once (in 2011).
Thailand – Karma, by Kanittha Kwanyu. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Kanittha Kwanyu. Thailand has submitted 23 times with zero results.
Tunisia – The Flower of Aleppo, by Ridha Behi. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Ridha Behi. Tunisia has submitted 3 times resulting in zero nominations. This is first Tunisian submission since 2002.
Turkey – Cold of Kalandar, by Mustafa Kara. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Mustafa Kara. Turkey has submitted 23 times with zero nominations but was on the shortlist once (2008).
Ukraine – Ukrainian Sheriffs, by Roman Bondarchuk. (TBA). Trailer.
First time for Roman Bondarchuk. Ukraine has submitted 9 times with zero results.
United Kingdom – Under the Shadow, by Babak Anvari. (Vertical Entertainment). Trailer.
First time for Babak Anvari. The United Kingdom has submitted 14 times and has been nominated twice.
Uruguay – Migas de Pan (Bread Crumbs), by Manane Rodriguez. (TBA).
First time for Manane Rodriguez. Uruguay has submitted 15 times. It was nominated on its first submission (in 1993) but then disqualified when it was revealed that A Place in the World was largely an Argentinian production.
Venezuela – From Afar, by Lorenzo Vigas. (Strand Releasing). Trailer.
First time for Lorenzo Vigas. Venezuela has submitted 26 times without any nominations, but was on the shortlist once.
Vietnam – Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, by Victor Vu. (Fortissimo Films). Trailer.
First time for Victor Vu. Vietnam has submitted 12 times and was nominated once.
Yemen – I Am Nojoom, Age 10 and Divorced, by Khadija Al-Salami.
This is the first time for Khadija Al-Salami and it is also the very first submission ever for Yemen.
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Facts and Stats (as of 2016 Oscars)
Countries in order of number of Foreign Language Film Oscar wins and nominations
(Wins – Gold, Nominations – Peach, Submissions – Green)
Countries in order of Foreign Language Film Oscar nominations with no wins
(Nominations – Peach, Submissions – Green, Nominated but later disqualified – Blue)
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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Thanks! Love the foreign films …