The submitted motion pictures in the running for the International Feature Film Oscar (formerly Foreign Language Film, see below) must be first released theatrically in their respective countries between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019. The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2019, with the Academy announcing the list of eligible films shortly after. From the longlist, ten finalists will be shortlisted, with the final five Oscar nominees announced on January 13, 2020. The 92nd Academy Awards will be held on February 9, 2020.
“We have noted that the reference to ‘Foreign’ is outdated within the global filmmaking community,” commented Larry Karaszewski and Diane Weyermann, co-chairs of the International Feature Film Committee. “We believe that International Feature Film better represents this category, and promotes a positive and inclusive view of filmmaking, and the art of film as a universal experience.”
Algeria was the first country to officially submit this year. They entered Papicha from director Mounia Meddour, who also then happens to be our first female director. [UPDATE: the Algiers premiere of Papicha was cancelled for unknown reasons, putting its eligibility in jeopardy if it cannot make the seven-day domestic screening requirement]
As we always do at AwardsWatch, we will be keeping track of the submissions and highlighting the number of women directors (21 last year), LGBTQ+ films (six last year) as well as history and stats of the countries in this category (formerly called Foreign Language Film). Last year, a total of 87 submissions qualified (the all-time record is 92 in 2017). Mexico’s Roma won the Oscar, breaking a streak of 8 nominations (from 50 submissions) without a win, the second most behind Israel.
Sweden selection of And Then We Danced by Levan Akin marks the first time ever the country has chosen a film in a full foreign language (Georgian) instead Swedish. It’s also the first submission that features LGTBQ+ subjects and/themes as its main point.
Not counting Honorary Oscars that pre-date the Foreign Language Film/International Feature Film categories, here are some superlatives worth noting.
Here is the official submission list, alphabetized by country, for the 2020 Oscars. Bookmark this page as it will be updated as each country announces and keep an eye out for our upcoming predictions on this always fascinating category.
| Country | Title | Language(s) | Director(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 12th submission for Albania, which has yet to be nominated | The Delegation | Albanian/French | Bujar Alimani (3rd) |
| Algeria | 21st submission for Algeria, which has been nominated five times and won once (1969’s Z) | Papicha | French | Mounia Meddour (1st) |
| Argentina | 46th submission for Argentina, which has been nominated seven times and won twice (1985's The Official Story, 2009's The Secret in Their Eyes) | Heroic Losers | Spanish | Sebastián Borensztein |
| Armenia | 8th submission for Armenia, which has yet to be nominated | Lengthy Night | Armenian | Edgar Baghdasaryan (1st) |
| Australia | 13th submission for Australia, which has been nominated once (2016' Tanna) | Buoyancy | Khmer/Thao | Rodd Rathjen (1st) |
| Austria | 43rd submission for Austria, which has been nominated 4 times and won twice (2007's The Counterfeiters and 2012's Amour) | Joy (currently streaming on Netflix) | English/German | Sudabeh Mortezai (1st) |
| Bangladesh | 15th submission for Bangladesh, which has yet to be nominated | Alpha (YouTube) | Bengali | Nasiruddin Yousuff (1st) |
| Belarus | 4th submission for Belarus, which has yet to be nominated | Debut | Russian | Anastasiya Miroshnichenko (1st) |
| Belgium | 44th submission for Belgium, which has been nominated seven times | Our Mothers | Spanish | César Díaz (1st) |
| Bolivia | 11th submission for Bolivia, which has yet to be nominated | I Miss You | Spanish/English | Rodrigo Bellott (1st) |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | 19th submission for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was nominated and won once (2001's No Man's Land) | The Son | Bosnian | Ines Tanović (2nd) |
| Brazil | 49th submission for Brazil, which has been nominated four times (1962's Keeper of Promises, 1995's O Quatrilho, 1997's Four Days in September, 1998's Central Station) | Invisible Life (Amazon) | Portuguese | Karim Aïnouz (1st) |
| Bulgaria | 30th submission for Bulgaria, which has yet to be nominated | Ága | Yakut | Milko Lazarov (1st) |
| Cambodia | 8th submission for Cambodia, which has been nominated once (2013's The Missing Picture). | In the Life of Music | Khmer/English | Caylee So and Sok Visal (1st) |
| Canada | 45th submission for Canada, which has been nominated 7 times and won once (2003's The Barbarian Invasions) | Antigone | French | Sophie Deraspe (1st) |
| Chile | 24th submission for Chile, which has been nominated twice and won once (2016's A Fantastic Woman) | Araña aka Spider | Spanish | Andrés Wood (3rd) |
| China | 33rd submission for China, which has been nominated twice (1990's Ju Dou and 2002's Hero) | Ne Zha | Mandarin | Yu Yang (1st) |
| Colombia | 28th submission for Colombia, which has been nominated once (2015's Embrace the Serpent) | Monos (Neon) | English/Spanish | Alejandro Landes (1st) |
| Costa Rica | 8th submission for Costa Rica, which has yet to be nominated | The Awakening of the Ants | Spanish | Antonella Sudassasi Furnis (1st) |
| Croatia | 28th submission for Croatia, which has yet to be nominated | Mali | Croatian | Antonio Nuić (2nd) |
| Cuba | 21st submission for Cuba, which has been nominated once, for 1994's Strawberry and Chocolate | A Translator (Amazon) | Spanish/Russian | Rodrigo Barriuso, Sebastián Barriuso (1st) |
| Czech Republic/Czechia | 26th submission for the newly named Czechia (formerly Czech Republic), which has been nominated 3 times and won once (1996's Kolya) | The Painted Bird | Czech/German/Russian | Václav Marhoul (1st) |
| Denmark | 56th submission for Denmark, which has been nominated 11 times and won three (1987's Babette's Feast, 1988's Pelle the Conqueror, 2010's In a Better World) | Queen of Hearts | Danish/Swedish | May el-Toukhy (1st) |
| Dominican Republic | 12th submission for Dominican Republic, which has yet to be nominated | The Projectionist | Spanish | Jose Maria Cabral (3rd) |
| Ecuador | 7th submission for Ecuador, which has yet to be nominated | The Longest Night | Spanish | Gabriela Calvache (1st) |
| Egypt | 34th submission for Egypt, which has yet to be nominated | Poisonous Roses | Arabic | Fawzi Saleh (1st) |
| Estonia | 17th submission for Estonia, which has been nominated once (2014's Tangerines) | Truth and Justice | Estonian | Tanel Toom (1st) |
| Ethiopia | 4th submission for Ethiopia, which has yet to be nominated | Running Against the Wind | Amharic | Jan Philipp Weyl (1st) |
| Finland | 33rd submission for Finland, which has been nominated once (2002's The Man Without a Past) | Stupid Young Heart | Finnish | Selma Vilhunen (1st) |
| France | 66th submission for France, which has been nominated 39 times, won 12 times | Les Misérables | French | Ladj Ly (1st) |
| Georgia | 18th submission for Georgia, which has been nominated once (1996's A Chef in Love) | Shindisi | Georgian | Dito Tsintsadze (2nd) |
| Germany | 29th submission for Germany (since 1990 unification), which has been nominated 11 times and won twice (2002's Nowhere in Africa and 2006's The Lives of Others). Pre-unification, West Germany was nominated 8 times and won once (1979's The Tin Drum); East Germany was nominated once (1976's Jacob the Liar) | System Crasher | German | Nora Fingscheidt (1st) |
| Ghana | 1st submission for Ghana | Azali | Akan | Kwabena Gyansah (1st) |
| Greece | 39th submission for Greece, which has been nominated 5 times but has yet to win | When Tomatoes Met Wagner | Greek | Marianna Economou (1st) |
| Honduras | 2nd submission for Honduras, which has yet to be nominated | Blood, Passion and Coffee | Spanish | Carlos Membreño (1st) |
| Hong Kong | 36th submission for Hong Kong, which has been nominated twice (1992's Raise the Red Lantern, 1993's Farewell My Concubine) | White Storm 2: Drug Lords | Cantonese | Herman Yau (1st) |
| Hungary | 55th submission for Hungary, which has been nominated 10 times, won twice (1981's Mephisto and 2015's Son of Saul) | Those Who Remained | Hungarian | Barnabás Tóth (1st) |
| Iceland | 40th submission for Iceland, which has been nominated once (1991's Children of Nature) | A White, White Day | Icelandic | Hlynur Pálmason (1st) |
| Indonesia | 21st submission for Indonesia, which has yet to be nominated | Memories of My Body | Indonesian | Garin Nugroho (2nd) |
| India | 52nd submission for India, which has been nominated three times (1957's Mother India, 1988's Salaam Bombay! and 2001's Lagaan). It is tied with Israel for most submissions without a win | Gully Boy (currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video) | Hindi | Zoya Akhtar (1st) |
| Iran | 25th submission for Iran, which has been nominated 3 times and won twice (both Farhadi's films: 2011's A Separation and 2016's The Salesman) | Finding Farideh | Persian/Dutch/English | Kourosh Ataee and Azadeh Moussavi (1st) |
| Ireland | 6th submission for Ireland, which has yet to be nominated | Gaza | Arabic | Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell (1st) |
| Israel | 52nd submission for Israel, which has been nominated 10 times but has yet to win. It is tied with India for most submissions without a win | Incitement | Hebrew | Yaron Zilbrman (1st) |
| Italy | 66th submission for Italy, which has been nominated 32 times and holds the record for most wins at 14 | The Traitor (Sony Classics) | Italian/Sicilian/Portguese/English | Marco Bellocchio (3rd) |
| Japan | 66th submission for Japan, which has been nominated 16 times and won four (3 special Oscars and 2008's Departures) | Weathering with You (GKIDS) | Japanese | Makoto Shinkai (1st) |
| Kazakhstan | 14th submission for Kazakhstan, which has been nominated once (2007's Mongol) | Kazakh Khanate: Golden Throne | Kazakh | Rustem Abdrashev (1st) |
| Kenya | 4th submission for Kenya, which has yet to be nominated | Subira | English/Swahili | Ravneet Chadha (1st) |
| Kosovo | 6th submission for Kosovo, which has yet to be nominated | Zana | Albanian | Antoneta Kastrati (1st) |
| Kyrgyzstan | 12th submission for Kyrgyzstan, which has yet to be nominated | Aurora | Kirghiz/Russian | Bekzat Pirmatov (1st) |
| Latvia | 11th submission for Latvia, which has yet to be nominated | The Mover | Latvian | Dāvis Sīmanis (1st) |
| Lebanon | 16th submission for Lebanon, which has been nominated twice (2017's The Insult and 2018's Capernaum) | 1982 | Arabic/English | Oualid Mouaness (1st) |
| Lithuania | 12th submission for Lithuania, which has yet to be nominated | Bridges of Time | Latvian/Lithuanian/Estonian/Hebrew | Kristīne Briede (1st) Audrius Stonys(2nd) |
| Luxembourg | 16th submission for Luxembourg, which has yet to be nominated | Tel Aviv on Fire | Hebrew/Arabic | Sameh Zoabi (1st) |
| Malaysia | 5th submission for Malaysia, which has yet to be nominated | M for Malaysia | Malay/English | Dian Lee and Ineza Roussille (1st) |
| Mexico | 52nd submission for Mexico, which has been nominated 9 times and won once (2019's Roma) | The Chambermaid (Kino Lorber) | Spanish | Lila Avilés (1st) |
| Mongolia | 4th submission for Mongolia, which has yet to be nominated | The Steed | Mongolian/Kazakh/Chinese/Russian | Erdenebileg Ganbold (1st) |
| Montenegro | 6th submission for Montenegro, which has yet to be nominated | Neverending Past | Serbian | Andro Martinovic (1st) |
| Morocco | 15th submission for Morocco, which has yet to be nominated but was on the shortlist once (2011's Omar Killed Me) | Adam | Arabic | Maryam Touzani (1st) |
| Nepal | 11th submission for Nepal, which has been nominated once (1999's Caravan) | Bulbul | Nepali | Binod Poudel (1st) |
| Netherlands | 52nd submission for Netherlands, which has been nominated 7 times and won 3 times (1986's The Assault, 1995's Antonia's Line and 1997's Character) | Instinct | Dutch | Halina Reijn (1st) |
| Nigeria | 1st submission from Nigeria to pass the committee stage for consideration | Lionheart | English/Igbo | Genevieve Nnaji (1st) |
| North Macedonia | 15th submission for Macedonia, which has been nominated once (1994's Before the Rain) | Honeyland | Turkish | Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov (1st) |
| Norway | 41st submission for Norway, which has been nominated 5 times (1957's Nine Lives, 1987's The Pathfinder, 1996's The Other Side of Sunday, 2001's Elling and 2012's Kon-Tiki) | Out Stealing Horses (Magnolia) | Norwegian | Hans Petter Moland (1st) |
| Pakistan | 9th submission for Pakistan, which has yet to be nominated | Laal Kabootar | Urdu | Kamal Khan (1st) |
| Palestine | 12th submission for Palestine, which has been nominated twice (2005's Paradise Now and 2013's Omar) | It Must Be Heaven | English/French/Arabic | Elia Suleiman (2nd) |
| Panama | 6th submission for Panama, which has yet to be nominated | Everybody Changes | Spanish | Arturo Montenegro (1st) |
| Peru | 26th submission for Peru, which has been nominated once (2009's The Milk of Sorrow) | Retablo | Quechua/Spanish | Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio (1st) |
| Philippines | 31st submission for Philippines, which has yet to be nominated | Verdict | Tagalog/Filipino/English | Raymund Ribay Gutierrez (1st) |
| Poland | 51st submission for Poland, which has been nominated 11 times and won once (2014's Ida) | Corpus Christi | Polish | Jan Komasa (1st) |
| Portugal | 36th submission for Portugal, which has yet to be nominated; the record for the country with the most submissions without an Oscar nom | The Domain | Portuguese | Thiago Guedes (1st) |
| Romania | 36th submission for Romania, which has yet to be nominated. It was on the shortlist once, for 2012's Beyond the Hill | The Whistlers (Magnolia Films) | Romanian/English/Spanish | Corneliu Porumboui (2nd) |
| Russia | 27th submission for Russia (as the Soviet Union it had 24 submissions, nine nominations and three wins), which has been nominated seven times and won once (1994's Burnt by the Sun) | Beanpole | Russian | Kantemir Balagov (1st) |
| Saudi Arabia | 3rd submission for Saudi Arabia, which has yet to be nominated | The Perfect Candidate | Arabic | Haifaa al-Mansour (2nd) |
| Senegal | 2nd submission for Senegal, which has yet to be nominated | Atlantics | Wolof/French/English | Mati Diop (1st) |
| Serbia | 26th submission for Serbia, which has yet to be nominated | King Peter I | Serbian | Petar Ristovski (1st) |
| Singapore | 13th submission for Singapore, which has yet to be nominated | A Land Imagined (currently streaming on Netflix) | Bengali/English/Mandarin | Yeo Siew Hua (1st) |
| Slovakia | 23rd submission for Slovakia, which has yet to be nominated | Let There Be Light | Slovak | Marko Škop (1st) |
| Slovenia | 23rd submission for Slovenia, which has yet to be nominated | History of Love | English/Slovenian | Sonja Prosenc (2nd) |
| South Africa | 15th submission for South Africa, which has been nominated and won once (2005's Tsotsi) | Knuckle City | Xhosa | Jahmil X.T. Qubeka (2nd) |
| South Korea | 31st submission for South Korea, which has yet to be nominated | Parasite (Neon) | Korean | Bong Joon-ho (2nd) |
| Spain | 63rd submission for Spain, which has been nominated 19 times, won 4 times (1982's Volver a Empezar; 1993's "Belle Epoque; 1999's All About My Mother and 2004's The Sea Inside) | Pain and Glory | Spanish | Pedro Almodóvar (7th) |
| Sweden | 58th submission for Sweden, which has been nominated 16 times, won 3 times (all films directed by Ingmar Bergman - 1960's The Virgin Spring; 1961's Through a Glass Darkly and 1983's Fanny and Alexander) | And Then We Danced (Music Box) | Georgian | Levan Akin (1st) |
| Switzerland | 47th submission for Switzerland, which has been nominated 5 times, won twice (1984's Dangerous Moves and 1990's Journey of Hope) | Wolkenbruch's Wondrous Journey Into the Arms of a Shiksa | German/Yiddish/Hebrew | Michael Steiner (1st) |
| Taiwan | 45th submission for Taiwan, which has been nominated 3 times (all by Ang Lee's films), won once (2000's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) | Dear Ex (currently streaming on Netflix) | Mandarin | Mag Hsu and Hsu Chih-yen (1st) |
| Thailand | 26th submission for Thailand, which has yet to be nominated | Krasue: Inhuman Kiss (currently streaming on Netflix) | Thai | Sitisiri Mongkolsiri (1st) |
| Tunisia | 6th submission for Tunisia, which has yet to be nominated | Dear Son | Arabic | Mohamed Ben Attia (1st) |
| Turkey | 26th submission for Turkey, which has yet to be nominated | Bağlılık - Aslı | Turkish | Semih Kaplanoğlu (2nd) |
| Ukraine | 12th submission for the Ukraine, which has yet to be nominated | Homeward | Crimean Tatar/Ukrainian | Nariman Aliev (1st) |
| United Kingdom | 17th submission for United Kingdom, which has been nominated twice (1993's Hedd Wynn and 1999's Solomon and Gaenor) | The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (currently streaming on Netflix) | English | Chiwetel Ejiofor (1st) |
| Uruguay | 19th submission for Uruguay, which has the dubious distinction of being the only country to have a nomination rescinded (1992's A Place in the Sun) | The Moneychanger | Spanish | Federico Veiroj (2nd) |
| Uzbekistan | 1st ever submission for Uzbekistan | Hot Bread | Uzbek | Umid Khamdamov (1st) |
| Venezuela | 29th submission for Venezuela, which has yet to be nominated | Being Impossible | Spanish | Patricia Ortega (1st) |
| Vietnam | 16th submission for Vietnam, which has been nominated once (1993's The Scent of Green Papaya) | Furie (currently streaming on Netflix) | Vietnamese | Lê Văn Kiệt (1st) |
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