International Feature Film Oscar List... we're almost there!
Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 6:00PM 
Trine Dyrholm seduces her stepson in Denmark's submission "Queen of Hearts"
Countries have until October 1st to submit their representing film to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Though there's one week left, we now have practically the whole list with 83 pictures announcing (see the charts and the letterboxd list) Last year the list was 87 pictures long and the record is 92 which was in 2017 so we'll probably see a slightly longer list when the Academy officially publishes it. Usually one or two films will mysteriously drop out or be replaced that were previously announced, too. So it's not official until it's official.
Do we talk about this category too much at TFE? Maybe so but we're into it. After the jump, 10 entries you can see early if you try and the 9 newest submissions.
The latest entries...
Armenia, Lengthy Night
Australia, Buoyanc
Belarus, Debuty
Denmark, Queen of Hearts
Australia went with a prize winning debut from Venice about a Thai teenager sold into slave labour and Denmark chose a sexually heated Tryne Dyrholme drama. L-o-v-e Tryne Dirholm, a truly stellar actress, so we're excited to see it.
Iceland, A White White Day (REVIEWED)
Luxembourg, Tel Aviv on Fire
We're wondering if Luxembourg's choice will be disqualified as its only connection to Luxembourg appears to be that it was produced and filmed there with a local crew. But will that be enough? The director, cast, and storyline are Palestinian. Films have been disqualified for not being artistically connected to the country submitting them for much more questionable reasons. Remember when The Forgiveness of Blood (2011) was rejected as Albania's submission solely because the director was American (though the rest of the film was totally Albanian in subject matter, setting, cast, and crew.)
Russia, Beanpole
Singapore, A Land Imagined
Uzbekistan, Hot Bread
Furie was a modest success in its US specialty theater release this past spring.
14 SUBMITTED FILMS YOU CAN SEE BEFORE THE FINALIST LIST IS ANNOUNCED
Get a head start on this competition with the following...
currently streaming
- The Chambermaid (Mexico) - drama on iTunes
- Dear Ex (Taiwan) -gay drama on Netflix
- Furie (Vietnam) - action thriller on iTunes
- Gully Boy (India) - music drama on Amazon
- Inhuman Kiss (Thailand) -supernatural horror flick on Netflix
- Joy (Austria) - sex trafficking drama on Netflix
- A Land Imagined (Singapore) - a police investigation mystery on Netflix
currently in theaters
- Aga (Bulgaria) - playing in Los Angeles now
- Monos (Colombia) currently in 33 theaters in the US (and expanding)
- Honeyland (North Macedonia, REVIEWED) nearing the end of its run but it's still in 40 screens in the US (it did very well for a documentary on beekeepers with over half a million)
- Tel Aviv on Fire (Luxembourg) - losing theaters now but still on 6 screens in the US (it did well grossing almost half a million)
opening very soon
- Pain & Glory (Spain) October 4th (select cities and will obviously expand given the famous director and buzz. Contender in multiple categories, not just International Feature Film)
- Parasite (South Korea) October 11th (select cities and will obviously expand given the famous director and buzz. Contender in multiple categories, not just International Feature Film)
Six more of the titles have distribution in place but they're unfortunately waiting until 2020 to release themselves right around Oscar time (presumptiously assuming they'll be nominated or just desperate with hope for the same?)
Reader Comments (8)
Nice picture choice lol
Thanks for the update, Nathaniel. I'm curious - if Tel Aviv on Fire had won the Ophir award, would it have also been a contender for Israel along with Luxembourg?
I caught Joy on Netflix a few weeks ago, and it's really wonderful with a great leading performance from Anwulika Alphonsus.
A few more are out now as well:
The Chambermaid (Mexico) is out on iTunes.
Furie (Vietnam) is on iTunes as well.
A Land Imagined (Singapore) is out on Netflix.
Rod -- thanks. have updatd the post.
Abe -- i dont believe two countries can submit the same film as it's never happened. But perhaps it's not a rule and no one has tried it?
Honeyland is unexpectedly a totally captivating, quiet little documentary out of Macedonia. People should check it out!
(It was also just put in the DOCNYC shortlist, so there's hope for it in the Oscar race, though more likely in the Doc Feature category.)
i think I already commented on Dear Ex a bit. Now that I have some time to digest it, I have fond memories of a film that is taut, leading you to understand all the leading characters who are at odds. never formulaic, the film finishes well. Hooray for Netflix, for adding this and other foreign firm contenders on their platform.
The Nigerian film is on iTunes as well.