THE DEVIL'S BATH (2024) Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala
And just like that, we're off to the races. Though the 97th Academy Awards are still half a year away, the deadline for countries to submit titles for the Best International Film category is much closer. Nations have until October 4th to choose their representative feature, which must have enjoyed a minimum seven-day theatrical release before the September 30th deadline. Considering those timeframes, it's expected that the next few months will be full of submission news as the world prepares for a cinematic Olympics of sorts. This year, Ireland and Austria are the first countries to announce their official Oscar contenders…
From Austria, the Academy will have to consider The Devil's Bath, a recent horror film by the same directorial team that produced Goodnight, Mommy and The Lodge. This is the second time the country has submitted Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, having already done so in 2015. It's a risky move considering AMPAS' notorious anti-horror tendencies, but one must applaud the Austrian committee's belief in their pick's quality. Will it be enough to sway voters away from their genre-averse ways? Maybe not, but it may direct more audiences to the flick. If you're interested, The Devil's Bath is already streaming on Shudder and other platforms.
KNEECAP (2024) Rich Peppiatt
Then, there's the Irish submission, Kneecap. The Rich Peppiatt-directed comedy tells the true story of the titular Belfast-based hip-hop trio. The premise of the thing is pretty enticing, functioning as a piece of music-forward Neorealism for the Green Isle where the real people play fictionalized versions of themselves. Professional actors fill the supporting cast, with Michael Fassbender shining bright as the feature's biggest name. As an Oscar nominee and Hollywood star, one can imagine his presence will guarantee eyes on the film when it's time to vote. Most other submissions won't have that advantage.
Another feather on Kneecap's proverbial cap is its critical reception. Premiered at Sundance, the film became an instant darling before Sony Pictures Classics nabbed its distribution rights. And if there's one thing that the past few Oscar seasons have proven, it is that one should never underestimate that company's campaign strategies. Even when they seem to sabotage their movies, they tend to end up on top. That said, they're not hiding this gem. Indeed, the film has just opened in American theaters for a limited release before its Irish premiere next week. The Oscar submission is good publicity at a crucial moment if nothing else.
As always, The Film Experience will cover the Best International Film race extensively. So stay tuned for more updates down the line.