While it’s futile to analyze the Oscar race in general — especially many months in advance — we do give special credence to a specific section of the Academy Awards: the Best Foreign Language Film submissions. Often one of the few categories during the ceremony that will actually highlight perhaps underseen works, we’re now giving you a chance to get ahead of the game with a full overview.
As close as cinema gets to a World Cup or Olympics, each country is able to submit their choice to compete for the award, with a few guidelines. Notably, each film must have been released in its respective country from October 1st of the previous year to September 30th of this year.
With that date recently passing, The Academy has confirmed 81 countries that have submitted a proper selection. Notable inclusions are László Nemes‘ Son of Saul, Hou Hsiao-hsien‘s The Assassin, Roy Andersson’s A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, Miguel Gomes‘ Arabian Nights – Volume 2, The Desolate One, Pablo Larraín‘s The Club, Chaitanya Tamhane‘s Court, Grímur Hákonarson‘s Rams, Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s Mustang, Tobias Lindholm‘s A War, Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala‘s Goodnight Mommy, and Pablo Trapero‘s The Clan.
As these get pared down by The Academy, and then subsequent finalist lists, all the way to five nominees on January 14th, followed by the winner during the ceremonies on February 29th, check back for coverage. In the meantime, see trailers for all of the selections below, and reviews where available.
Afghanistan – Utopia – Hassan Nazer
Albania – Bota – Iris Elezi and Thomas Logoreci
Algeria – Twilight of Shadows – Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina
Argentina – The Clan – Pablo Trapero
Australia – Arrows of the Thunder Dragon – Greg Sneddon
Austria – Goodnight Mommy – Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
Bangladesh – Jalal’s Story – Abu Shahed Emon
Belgium – The Brand New Testament – Jaco Van Dormael
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Our Everyday Life – Ines Tanovic
Brazil – The Second Mother – Anna Muylaert
Bulgaria – The Judgement – Stephan Komandarev
Cambodia – The Last Reel – Sotho Kulikar
Canada – Félix and Meira – Maxime Giroux
Chile – The Club – Pablo Larraín
China – Go Away Mr. Tumor – Han Yan
Colombia – Embrace of the Serpent – Ciro Guerra
Costa Rica – Imprisoned – Esteban Ramírez
Croatia – The High Sun – Dalibor Manatić
Czech Republic – Home Care – Slavek Horak
Denmark – A War – Tobias Lindholm
Dominican Republic – Sand Dollars – Laura Amelia Guzman, Israel Cárdenas
Estonia – 1944 – Elmo Nüganen
Ethiopia – Lamb – Yared Zeleke
Finland – The Fencer – Klaus Härö
France – Mustang – Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Georgia – Moira – Levan Tutberidze
Germany – Labyrinth of Lies – Giulio Ricciarelli
Greece – Xenia – Panos H. Koutras
Guatemala – Ixcanul – Jayro Bustamante
Hong Kong – To the Fore – Dante Lam
Hungary – Son of Saul – László Nemes
Iceland – Rams – Grímur Hákonarson
India – Court – Chaitanya Tamhane
Iran – Muhammad: The Messenger of God – Majid Majidi
Iraq – Memories on Stone – Shawkat Amin Korki
Ireland – Viva – Paddy Breathnach
Israel – Baba Joon – Yuval Delshad
Italy – Don’t Be Bad – Claudio Caligari
Ivory Coast – Run – Philippe Lacôte
Japan – 100 Yen Love – Masaharu Take
Jordan – Theeb – Naji Abu Nowar
Kazakhstan – Stranger – Ermek Tursunov
Kosovo – Babai – Visar Morina
Kyrgyzstan – Heavenly Nomadic – Mirlan Abdykalykov
Latvia – Modris – Juris Kursietis
Lebanon – Void – Naji Bechara, Jad Beyrouthy, Zeina Makki, Tarek Korkomaz, Christelle Ighniades, Maria Abdel Karim and Salim Haber
Lithuania – The Summer of Sangaile – Alanté Kavaïté
Luxembourg – Baby(a)lone – Donato Rotunno
Macedonia – Honey Night – Ivo Trajkov
Malaysia – Men Who Save the World – Liew Seng Tat
Mexico – 600 Miles – Gabriel Ripstein
Montenegro – You Carry Me – Ivona Juka
Morocco – Aida – Driss Mrini
Nepal – Talakjung vs Tulke – Basnet Nischal
Netherlands – The Paradise Suite – Joost van Ginkel
Norway – The Wave – Roar Uthaug
Pakistan – Moor – Jami
Palestine – The Wanted 18 – Paul Cowan, Amer Shomali
Paraguay – Cloudy Times – Arami Ullon
Peru – NN – Héctor Gálvez
Philippines – Heneral Luna – Jerrold Tarog
Poland – 11 Minutes – Jerzy Skolimowski
Portugal – Arabian Nights: Volume 2 – The Desolate One – Miguel Gomes
Romania – Aferim! – Radu Jude
Russia – Sunstroke – Nikita Mikhalkov
Serbia – Enclave – Goran Radovanović
Singapore – 7 Letters – Royston Tan, Kelvin Tong, Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng and K. Rajagopal
Slovakia – Goat – Ivan Ostrochovský
Slovenia – The Tree – Sonja Prosenc
South Africa – The Two of Us – Ernest Nkosi
South Korea – The Throne – Lee Joon-ik
Spain – Flowers – Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga
Sweden – A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence – Roy Andersson
Switzerland – Iraqi Odyssey – Samir
Taiwan – The Assassin – Hou Hsiao–Hsien
Thailand – How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) – Josh Kim
Turkey – Sivas – Kaan Müjdeci
United Kingdom – Under Milk Wood – Kevin Allen
Uruguay – A Moonless Night – Germán Tejeira
Venezuela – Gone with the River – Mario Crespo
Vietnam – Jackpot – Dustin Nguyen
Which country are you rooting for? What’s your favorite film of the selections?