65 Countries in Competition for 2009 Foreign Language Film Oscar

AMPAS announced the list of eligible foreign language films today, from 65 different countries around the world. I have only seen two, Jacques Audiard's A Prophet, from France, which is a strong contender, and Havana Marking's British documentary, Afghan Star. A Prophet is a likely nominee, along with Michael Haneke's Palme D'Or winning The White Ribbon from Germany.

Leonard Proxauf as Martin (The Pastor's son) in The White Ribbon.
Ā© Films du Losange Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics


Notable omissions include Pedro Almodovar's Broken Embraces, as Spain submitted The Dancer and the Thief instead, but it's not especially surprising given Spain's track record with Almodovar (they didn't submit Talk to Her or Volver either), and Broken Embraces' mixed critical reaction.


Here is the full list:

Albania, ā€œAlive!,ā€ Artan Minarolli, director;
Argentina, ā€œEl Secreto de Sus Ojos,ā€ Juan Jose Campanella, director;
Armenia, ā€œAutumn of the Magician,ā€ Rouben Kevorkov and Vaheh Kevorkov, directors;
Australia, ā€œSamson & Delilah,ā€ Warwick Thornton, director;
Austria, ā€œFor a Moment Freedom,ā€ Arash T. Riahi, director;
Bangladesh, ā€œBeyond the Circle,ā€ Golam Rabbany Biplob, director;
Belgium, ā€œThe Misfortunates,ā€ Felix van Groeningen, director;
Bolivia, ā€œZona Sur,ā€ Juan Carlos Valdivia, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, ā€œNightguards,ā€ Namik Kabil, director;
Brazil, ā€œTime of Fear,ā€ Sergio Rezende, director;
Bulgaria, ā€œThe World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner,ā€ Stephan Komandarev, director;
Canada, ā€œI Killed My Mother,ā€ Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, ā€œDawson, Isla 10,ā€ Miguel Littin, director;
China, ā€œForever Enthralled,ā€ Chen Kaige, director;
Colombia, ā€œThe Wind Journeys,ā€ Ciro Guerra, director;
Croatia, ā€œDonkey,ā€ Antonio Nuic, director;
Cuba, ā€œFallen Gods,ā€ Ernesto Daranas, director;
Czech Republic, ā€œProtektor,ā€ Marek Najbrt, director;
Denmark, ā€œTerribly Happy,ā€ Henrik Ruben Genz, director;
Estonia, ā€œDecember Heat,ā€ Asko Kase, director;
Finland, ā€œLetters to Father Jacob,ā€ Klaus Haro, director;
France, ā€œUn Prophete,ā€ Jacques Audiard, director;
Georgia, ā€œThe Other Bank,ā€ George Ovashvili, director;
Germany, ā€œThe White Ribbon,ā€ Michael Haneke, director;
Greece, ā€œSlaves in Their Bonds,ā€ Tony Lykouressis, director;
Hong Kong, ā€œPrince of Tears,ā€ Yonfan, director;
Hungary, ā€œChameleon,ā€ Krisztina Goda, director;
Iceland, ā€œReykjavik-Rotterdam,ā€ Oskar Jonasson, director;
India, ā€œHarishchandrachi Factory,ā€ Paresh Mokashi, director;
Indonesia, ā€œJamila and the President,ā€ Ratna Sarumpaet;
Iran, ā€œAbout Elly,ā€ Asghar Farhadi, director;
Israel, ā€œAjami,ā€ Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, director;
Italy, ā€œBaaria,ā€ Giuseppe Tornatore, director;
Japan, ā€œNobody to Watch over Me,ā€ Ryoichi Kimizuka, director;
Kazakhstan, ā€œKelin,ā€ Ermek Tursunov, director;
Korea, ā€œMother,ā€ Joon-ho Bong, director;
Lithuania, ā€œVortex,ā€ Gytis Luksas, director;
Luxembourg, ā€œRefractaire,ā€ Nicolas Steil, director;
Macedonia, ā€œWingless,ā€ Ivo Trajkov, director;
Mexico, ā€œBackyard,ā€ Carlos Carrera, director;
Morocco, ā€œCasanegra,ā€ Nour-Eddine Lakhmari, director;
The Netherlands, ā€œWinter in Wartime,ā€ Martin Koolhoven, director;
Norway, ā€œMax Manus,ā€ Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning, directors;
Peru, ā€œThe Milk of Sorrow,ā€ Claudia Llosa, director;
Philippines, ā€œGrandpa Is Dead,ā€ Soxie H. Topacio, director;
Poland, ā€œReverse,ā€ Borys Lankosz, director;
Portugal, ā€œDoomed Love,ā€ Mario Barroso, director;
Puerto Rico, ā€œKabo and Platon,ā€ Edmundo H. Rodriguez, director;
Romania, ā€œPolice, Adjective,ā€ Corneliu Porumboiu, director;
Russia, ā€œWard No. 6,ā€ Karen Shakhnazarov, director;
Serbia, ā€œSt. George Shoots the Dragon,ā€ Srdjan Dragojevic, director;
Slovakia, ā€œBroken Promise,ā€ Jiri Chlumsky, director;
Slovenia, ā€œLandscape No. 2,ā€ Vinko Moderndorfer, director;
South Africa, ā€œWhite Wedding,ā€ Jann Turner, director;
Spain, ā€œThe Dancer and the Thief,ā€ Fernando Trueba, director;
Sri Lanka, ā€œThe Road from Elephant Pass,ā€ Chandran Rutnam;
Sweden, ā€œInvoluntary,ā€ Ruben Ostlund, director;
Switzerland, ā€œHome,ā€ Ursula Meier, director;
Taiwan, ā€œNo Puedo Vivir sin Ti,ā€ Leon Dai, director;
Thailand, ā€œBest of Times,ā€ Yongyoot Thongkongtoon, director;
Turkey, ā€œI Saw the Sun,ā€ Mahsun Kirmizigul, director;
United Kingdom, ā€œAfghan Star,ā€ Havana Marking, director;
Uruguay, ā€œBad Day for Fishing,ā€ Alvaro Brechner, director;
Venezuela, ā€œLibertador Morales, El Justiciero,ā€ Efterpi Charalambidis, director;
Vietnam, ā€œDonā€™t Burn It,ā€ Dang Nhat Minh.

Comments

Anonymous saidā€¦
It is interesting the film of Taiwan has a Spanish name.
Tom saidā€¦
I want to see "Samson and Delilah".
Sam Juliano saidā€¦
I can't say how excited I am to see THE WHITE RIBBON. I'm anticipating a supreme masterpiece here for a number of reasons.
Ć”. saidā€¦
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.
Daniel saidā€¦
Gosh, I really want to see a lot of these. I think 2008 marked my "most viewed foreign Oscar submissions" ever, and boy was that class strong.

I've seen that About Elly and Backyard are already on the festival circuit. Hope these others make it sooner than later.

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