81 Countries in Competition For 2015 Foreign Language Film OSCAR®
LOS ANGELES, CA – Eighty-one countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 88th Academy Awards®.
Currently, the frontrunners are ARGENTINA (The Clan), AUSTRIA (Goodnight Mommy), BRAZIL (The Second Mother), COLOMBIA (Embrace the Serpent), GERMANY (Labyrinth of Lies), HUNGARY (Son of Saul), ICELAND (Rams), SWEDEN (A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting On Existence), and TAIWAN (The Assassin).
FUN FACTS:
Number of female directors: 15. Iris Elezi (Albania); Anna Muylaert (Brazil); Kulikar Sotho (Cambodia); Laura Amelia Guzman (Dominican Republic); Ines Tanović (Bosnia-Herzegovina); Deniz Gamze Ergüven (France); Zenia Makki, Christelle Ighniades and Maria Abdel Karim (Lebanon); Alanté Kavaité (Lithuania); Ivona Juka (Montenegro) Mercedes Arias and Delfina Vidal (Panama); Arami Ullon (Paraguay) and Sonja Prosenc (Slovenia).
Number of LGBT films: 4. Dominican Republic, Greece, Lithuania and Thailand.
Number of Documentary films: 2. Switzerland, and Paraguay.
Number of Animated films: 1. Palestine.
The 2015 submissions, plus quick history, trailer and US distribution where available are:
AFGHANISTAN – Utopia, Hassan Nazer. TRAILER
First time submission for Hassan Nazer. Afghanistan has submitted 10 times with zero nominations.
ALBANIA – Bota, Iris Elezi. TRAILER
First time submissions for Iris Elezi and Thomas Logoreci. Albania has submitted 9 times with zero nominations.
ALGERIA – Twilight of Shadows, Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina.
ARGENTINA – The Clan, Pablo Trapero. (20th Century Fox) TRAILER.
Third submission for Pablo Trapero. Argentina has submitted 42 times, has been nominated 7 times and won twice (1985’s The Official Story, 2009’s The Secret in Their Eyes) and remains the only Latin American country with Oscars in this category.
AUSTRALIA – Arrows of the Thunder Dragon, Greg Sneddon. TRAILER.
First time submission for Greg Sneddon. Australia has submitted eight times with zero nominations but made the shortlist with 2009’s Samson and Delilah.
AUSTRIA – Goodnight Mommy, Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz. (Radius-TWC). TRAILER
First time submission for Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala. Austria has submitted 39 times, been nominated 4 times and won twice (2006’s The Counterfeiters and 2012’s Amour).
BANGLADESH – Jalal’s Story, Abu Shahed Emon. TRAILER
First time submission for Abu Shahed Emon. Bangladesh has submitted 11 times with zero nominations.
BELGIUM – The Brand New Testament, Jaco van Dormael. TRAILER
Third submission for Jaco van Dormael. Belgium has submitted 40 times and was nominated 7 times with zero wins.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA – Our Everyday Life, Ines Tanovíc. TRAILER
First time submission for Ines Tanovíc. Bosnia & Herzegovina has submitted 14 times, but was nominated only once (No Man’s Land, winning that nom in 2001) and was on the shortlist in 2013. Both films were directed by another Tanovíc, Danis.
BRAZIL – The Second Mother, Anna Muylaert. (Oscilloscope Films). TRAILER
First time submission for Anna Muylaert and first female-directed film selected by Brazil in 30 years. Brazil has submitted 43 times, was nominated 4 times (1960’s Keeper of Promises, 1994’s O Quatrilho, 1997’sFour Days in September and 1998’s Central Station) and was on the shortlist in 2007.
BULGARIA – The Judgement, Stephan Komandarev. TRAILER
Second submission for Stephan Komandarev. Bulgaria has submitted 26 times with zero nominations but they were on the shortlist in 2009 with The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner.
CAMBODIA – The Last Reel, Kulikar Sotho. TRAILER
First time submission for Kulikar Sotho, making her the 9th woman this year. Cambodia has submitted four times and was nominated once, for 2013’s The Missing Picture.
CANADA – Felix and Meira, Maxime Giroux. (Oscilloscope Films) TRAILER.
First time submission for Maxime Giroux. Canada has submitted 41 times, was nominated 7 times, won once and was on the shortlist in 2007 and 2008.
CHILE – The Club, Pablo Larrain. (Music Box Films) TRAILER
Third submission for Pablo Larrain. Chile has submitted 20 times with one nomination, 2012’s No from Pablo Larrain.
CHINA – Go Away Mr. Tumor, Han Yan. TRAILER.
First time submission for Han Yan. China has submitted 28 times and has been nominated twice (1990’s Ju Dou 2002’s Hero) but has never won.
COLOMBIA – Embrace the Serpent, Ciro Guerra. (Oscilloscope Films) TRAILER
Third submission for Ciro Guerra. Colombia has submitted 24 times with zero nominations.
COSTA RICA – Presos, Esteban Ramirez. TRAILER.
Second submission for Esteban Ramirez. Costa Rica has submitted 4 times with zero nominations.
CROATIA – The High Sun, Dalibor Matanić. TRAILER
Second submission for Dalibor Matanić. Croatia has submitted 24 times with zero nominations.
CZECH REPUBLIC – Home Care, Slávek Horák. TRAILER
First time submission for Slávek Horák. Czech Republic has submitted 22 times, was nominated 3 times (2000’s Divided We Fall and 2003’s Želary) and won once (1996’s Kolya).
DENMARK – A War, Tobias Lindholm. TRAILER
First time submission for Tobias Lindholm. Denmark has submitted 53 times, has been nominated 10 times, won 3 times (1987’s Babette’s Feast, 1988’s Pelle the Conquerer and 2010’s In a Better World) and was on the shortlist in 2011.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Sand Dollars, Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas. TRAILER
First time submission for duo Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas. Dominican Republic has submitted 8 times with zero nominations.
ESTONIA – 1944, Elmo Nüganen. TRAILER
First time for Elmo Nüganen. Estonia has submitted 13 times and has been nominated once, for 2014’s Tangerines.
ETHIOPIA – Lamb, Yared Zekele.
First time submission for Yared Zekele. Ethiopia has submitted 3 times with zero nominations.
FINLAND – The Fencer, by Klaus Härö. (TBA). TRAILER
Fourth submission for Klaus Härö. Finland has submitted 29 times and was nominated once (2001’s The Man Without a Past).
FRANCE – Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven. (Cohen Media Group) TRAILER
First time submission forDeniz Gamze Ergüven. France has submitted 63 times, has been nominated 39 times (the king of nominations in this category), won 12 times (including three honorary wins) and was on shortlist twice (2006 and 2012).
GEORGIA – Moira, Levan Tutberidze.
First time submission for Levan Tutberidze. Georgia has submitted 14 times, was nominated once (1996’sA Chef in Love) and was on the shortlist last year with Corn Island.
GERMANY – Labyrinth of Lies, Giulio Ricciarelli. (Sony Pictures Classics) TRAILER
First time submission for Guilio Ricciarelli. Germany submitted 25 times (as a unified country), was nominated 9 times, won twice (2002 for Nowhere in Africa and 2006 for The Lives of Others) and was on the shortlist twice (2011 and 2013).
GREECE – Xenia, Panos H. Koutras. (Strand Releasing) TRAILER
First time submission for Panos H. Koutras. Greece has submitted 35 times, has been nominated 5 times but has never won.
GUATEMALA – Ixcanul Volcano Jayro Bustamante. TRAILER
First time submission for Jayro Bustamante. This is the second time Guatemala has submitted to the Oscars, after 1994’s The Silence of Neto.
HONG KONG – To the Fore, Dante Lam. TRAILER
First time submission for Dante Lam. Hong Kong has submitted 34 times, has been nominated twice (1991’s Raise the Red Lantern and 1992’s Farewell My Concubine) and was on the shortlist in 2013. It was also disqualified twice, in 2002 and 2004, one of which for being entirely in English.
HUNGARY – Son of Saul, László Nemes. (Sony Pictures Classics) TRAILER
First time submission for László Nemes. Hungary has submitted 50 times, have been nominated 8 times and won once (In 1981 for István Szabó’s Mephisto). Hungary’s last nom was in 1988, but the country was on the 9-film shortlist in 2013 for The Notebook.
ICELAND – Rams, Grimur Hakonarson. (Cohen Media Group) TRAILER
First time submission for Grimur Hakonarson. Iceland has submitted 35 times, been nominated once (1990’s Children of Nature) and made the shortlist in 2012.
INDIA – Court, Chaitanya Tamhane. (Zeitgeist Films). TRAILER
First time submission for Chaitanya Tamhane. India has submitted 48 times, but despite being the biggest film industry in the world has only been nominated three times.
IRAN – Muhammad: The Messenger of God, Majid Majidi. TRAILER.
Fifth submission for Majid Majidi. Iran has submitted 21 times, was nominated twice (including 1998’s Children of Heaven from Majidi) and won once (2011’s A Separation).
IRAQ – Memories of Stone,Shawkat Amin Korki. TRAILER
First time submission for Shawkat Amin Korki. Iraq has submitted 6 times with zero nominations.
IRELAND – Viva, Paddy Breathnach.
First time submission for Paddy Breathnach. Ireland has submitted 4 times with zero nominations.
ISRAEL – Baba Joon, Yuval Delshad. TRAILER
First time submission for Yuval Delshad. Israel has submitted 48 times and has been nominated 10 times with zero wins, making it the biggest loser in this category.
ITALY – Non Essere Cattivo, Claudio Caligari. TRAILER.
First time submission for the now deceased Claudio Caligari. Italy has submitted 62 times, has been nominated 31 times and won 14 times, the undisputed victor in this category.
IVORY COAST – Run, Philippe Lacôte. CLIP
JAPAN – 100 Yen Love, Masaharu Take. TRAILER
First time submission for Masaharu Take. Japan has submitted 62 times, was nominated 39 times, won 4 times (3 of them as Honorary Oscars; 1950’s Rashomon, 1953’s Gate of Hell and 1954’s Samurai, The Legend of Musashi. It’s competitive win came from 2007’s Departures) and made the shortlist in 2010.
JORDAN – Theeb, Naji Abu Nowar. (Film Movement) TRAILER
First time submission for Naji Abu Nowar. This is only the second Jordan entry after their 2008 debut Captain Abu Raed.
KAZAKHSTAN – Stranger, Ermek Tursunov. TRAILER
First time submission for Tursunov. Kazakhstan has submitted 10 times, was nominated once (Mongol, 2007) and was on the shortlist in 2009.
KOSOVO – Babai, Visar Morina. TRAILER
First time submission for Visar Morina. Second submission for Kosovo after last year’s debut, which did not result in a nomination or shortlist.
KYRGYZSTAN – Heavenly Nomadic, Mirlan Abdykalykov. TRAILER.
LATVIA – Modris, Juris Kursietis. TRAILER
First time submission for Juris Kursietis. Latvia has submitted seven times with zero nominations.
LEBANON – Void, Tarek Korkomaz. TRAILER
First time for the team work of Tarek Korkomaz, Zeina Makki, Jad Beyrouthy, Christelle Ighniades, Salim Habr, Maria Abdel Karim & Naji Bechara. Lebanon has submitted 12 times with zero nominations.
LITHUANIA – The Summer of Sangailé, Alantė Kavaitė. TRAILER
First time submission for Alantė Kavaitė. Lithuania has submitted 8 times resulting in zero nominations.
LUXEMBOURG – Baby(a)lone, Donato Rotunno.
First time by Donato Rotuno. Luxembourg has submitted 12 times resulting in zero nominations.
MACEDONIA – Honey Night, Ivo Trajkov. TRAILER
Third submission for Ivo Trajkov. Macedonia has submitted 13 times and was nominated once, for 1994’sBefore the Rain.
MALAYSIA – Men Who Save the World, Liew Seng Tat. TRAILER.
First time submission for Liew Seng Tat. Malaysia has submitted 3 times with zero nominations.
MEXICO – 600 Miles, Gabriel Ripstein. TRAILER
First time submission for Gabriel Ripstein. Mexico has submitted 48 times, was nominated 8 times with zero wins, making it the second biggest loser of this category. Mexico was on the shortlist in 2008.
MONTENEGRO – You Carry Me, Ivona Juka.
First time submission for Ivona Juka. Montenegro has submitted 3 times with zero nominations.
MOROCCO – Aida, Driss Mrini.
First time submission for Driss Mrini. Morocco has submitted 11 times with zero nominations, but was on the shortlist in 2011.
NEPAL – Talakjung vs Tulke, Nischal Basnet. TRAILER
First time submission for Nischal Basnet. Nepal has submitted 7 times and was nominated once (1999’sCaravan).
NETHERLANDS – The Paradise Suite, Joost van Ginkel. TRAILER
First time submission for Joost van Ginkel. Netherlands has submitted 48 times, was nominated 7 times, won 3 times (1985’s The Assault, 1994’s Antonia’s Line and 1996’s Character) and was on the shortlist 3 times (In 2006, 2009 and 2014).
NORWAY – The Wave, Roar Uthaug. (TBA) TRAILER
First time submission for Roar Uthaug. Norway has submitted 37 times, was nominated 5 times has never won.
PAKISTAN – Moor, Jami. TRAILER
First time for Jami. Pakistan submitted 5 times with zero nominations.
PALESTINE – The Wanted 18, Paul Cowan and Amer Shomali. (Kino Lorber) TRAILER
Palestine has submitted seven times and been nominated twice (in 2005 for Paradise Now and 2013 forOmar).
PARAGUAY – Cloudy Times, Arami Ullón. TRAILER
First time submission for Arami Ullón. Paraguay enters the Oscar race for first time this year.
PERU – NN, Hector Galvez. TRAILER
First time submission for Hector Galvez. Peru has submitted 22 times and was nominated once, for 2008’s Milk of Sorrow.
PHILIPPINES – Heneral Luna, Jerrold Tarog. TRAILER.
First time for Jerrold Tarog. Philippines has submitted 27 times with zero nominations.
POLAND – 11 Minutes, Jerzy Skolimowski. TRAILER
First time submission for Jerzy Skolimowski. Poland has submitted 47 times, has been nominated 10 times and won for the first time this year with Ida.
PORTUGAL – Arabian Nights. Vol. 2 – The Desolate, Migeul Gomes.(Kino Lorber) TRAILER
First time submission for Miguel Gomes. Portugal has submitted 32 times with zero nominations.
ROMANIA – Aferim!, Radu Jude. (TBD) TRAILER
First time submission for Radu Jude. Romania has submitted 30 times, with zero noms or wins, but they made it to the 9-film shortlist in 2011 (for Beyond the Hills).
RUSSIA – Sunstroke, Nikita Mikhalkov. TRAILER
Sixth submission for Nikita Mikhalkov. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has submitted 23 times, has been nominated 6 times a won once (1994’s Burnt By the Sun from Nikita Mikhalkov).
SERBIA – Enclave, Goran Radovanović. TRAILER
First time submission for Goran Radovanović. Serbia has submitted 21 times with zero nominations but made the shortlist in 2007 with The Trap.
SINGAPORE – 7 Letters, Royston Tan, Kelvin Tong, Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng, K. Rajagopal. TRAILER.
SLOVAKIA – Goat, Ivan Ostrochovský. TRAILER.
First time submission for Ivan Ostrochovský. Slovakia has submitted 19 times with zero nominations.
SLOVENIA – The Tree, Sonja Prosenc. TRAILER
First time submission for Sonja Prosenc. Slovenia has submitted 19 times with zero nominations.
SOUTH AFRICA – The Two of Us, Ernest Nkosi. TRAILER
First time submission for Ernest Nkosi. South Africa has submitted 12 times, was nominated in 2004 forYesterday, won the next year with Tsotsi and was also on the shortlist once (In 2010).
SOUTH KOREA – The Throne, Lee Joon-ik. TRAILER.
Second submission for Lee Joon-ik. South Korea has submitted 27 times with zero nominations.
SPAIN – Loreak, Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga. TRAILER.
First time for the duo Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga. Spain has submitted 58 times, has been nominated 19 times, won 4 times and was in the shortlist twice (2006 and 2010).
Trivia: Normally Spain selects films in either entirely or mostly spoken in Spanish, but with Loreak this is the first time they have selected a film spoken in Basque. In 2011 Spain picked Pa Negre, a film in Catalan for first time and 1977 they picked That Obscure Object of Desire, mostly spoken in French.
SWEDEN – A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, Roy Andersson. (Magnolia Pictures)TRAILER
Third submission for Roy Andersson. Sweden has submitted 54 times, was nominated 14 times, won three times (all Ingmar Bergman films – 1959’s The Virgin Spring, 1960’s Through a Glass Darkly and 1982’sFanny and Alexander) and was on the shortlist three times (2008, 2010 and 2014).
SWITZERLAND – Iraqi Odyssey, Samir. TRAILER
First time submission for Samir. Switzerland has submitted 43 times, has been nominated 5 times, won twice (Dangerous Moves – 1984 and Journey of Hope – 1990) and was on the shortlist twice (2006 and 2012).
TAIWAN – The Assassin, Hou Hsaio-Hsien. (Well Go USA). TRAILER
Third submission for Hou Hsiao-Hsien. Taiwan has submitted 41 times, was nominated 3 times (1992’sThe Wedding Banquet, 1993’s Eat Drink Man Woman) and won once (2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). All nominations and the win came from Ang Lee. Also, Taiwan was on the shortlist in 2011.
THAILAND – How to Win at Checkers (Every Time), Josh Kim. TRAILER
First time submission for Josh Kim. Thailand has submitted 22 times with zero nominations.
TURKEY – Sivas, Kaan Müjdeci. TRAILER.
First time submission for Kaan Müjdeci. Turkey has submitted 22 times with zero nominations but made it to the shortlist with 2008’s Three Monkeys.
UNITED KINGDOM – Under Milk Wood, Kevin Allen. TRAILER.
URUGUAY – A Moonless Night, German Tejeira. TRAILER.
First time submission for German Tejeira. Uruguay has submitted 15 times and has a particular but sad record. In 1992, Uruguay submitted a film for first time, A Place in the World, which ended being nominated. A controversy quickly began when stories started circulating that the film had minimal Uruguayan artistic input; the film was shot by an Argentine writer/director in Argentina, the plot was set in Argentina, and the cast and crew were primarily from Argentina. Also, the film was in the running, finishing in second place, to represent Argentina in the Oscar race that year and represented Argentina at the 1992 Golden Globe Awards. Ultimately, the film was declared ineligible and removed from the final ballot. This is the first, and only, case of disqualification in this category from the nominations.
VENEZUELA – Gone with the River, Mario Crespo. (TBA).
First time submission for Mario Crespo. Venezuela has submitted 25 times with zero nominations, but they made the shortlist last year with The Liberator.
VIETNAM – Jackpot, Dustin Nguyen. TRAILER.
First time submission for Dustin Nguyen (yes, that Dustin Nguyen from TV’s 21 Jump Street). Vietnam has submitted 11 times and was nominated once, for 1993’s The Scent of Green Papaya.
The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
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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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