Golden Globes: ‘Minari,’ ‘The Life Ahead’ among record 138 foreign film submissions

The Hollywood Foreign Press announced this week that it received 138 submissions for Best Foreign Language Film, an all-time record for the Golden Globes. They come from 77 different countries of which 36 directed or co-directed by women.

Where the Golden Globes and the Oscars differ here (including the name change of the category) is that AMPAS only allows one film submission per country. This usually gives us a more eclectic and robust selection from which to choose, including films that are partly US productions.

While there are official International Feature Film AMPAS selections here (like Another Round from Denmark and Night of the Kings from Ivory Coast), we also have Netflix’s The Life Ahead from Italy and starring Sophia Loren as one of its nine submissions from or co-produced by the country. Italy chose the documentary Notturno to represent it at the Oscars but documentaries and animated film are ineligible at the Globes in this category. A24’s Minari is a fully US production but because it contains over 51% non-English language dialogue, qualifies for the Globes. France shows up in 17 submissions, Spain and India in 10 and the United States in 12.

Last year, A24’s The Farewell was nominated under the same guidelines. Last year’s winner, Parasite from South Korea, went on to win the Oscar for both International Feature Film and Best Picture.

To be eligible this year a foreign language film had to be commercially released in any country (not limited to the country of origin) and on any format, including theatrical, TV, VOD, streaming platforms and DVD. Qualifying release dates this year must fall within October 1, 2019 and February 28, 2021.

Here is the complete list of Foreign Language Film submissions eligible for a Golden Globe nomination. Nominations for the 78th Golden Globes will be announced February 3.