Finland's Oscar Entry and the European Film Awards Finalists

Finland has chosen its Oscar submission this year.

They've gone with the acclaimed black and white boxing drama The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki which is about a featherweight championship match between American and Finnish boxers in 1962.

That film is also in the finalist list for the European Film Awards. Nominations for the EFAs will be announced on November 5th. The EFA ceremony changes location each year and this year it will be held in Poland on December 10th. Because of competing eligibility dates you'll notice that each year's EFA list contains films from different Oscar seasons. The list of their finalists for 2016 is after the jump...

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Almodóvar's 'Julieta' Gets a Trailer

Manuel here. A new Pedro Almodóvar film is always cause for celebration. Yes, even when his last one (I'm So Excited) left many of us cold. Initially titled Silencio, the film is now called Julieta, making it only the second time he's named a film after its heroine. Let's hope Julieta makes for a more pleasant and engaging character than Kika, though.

The trailer is wonderfully oblique, with very little dialogue, so those of you who would otherwise need English subtitles can still bask in the visual sumptuousness of Jean-Claude Larrieu's photography. The D.P. is one of many newcomers to the Almodóvar family: both of his leading ladies, Emma Suárez and Adriana Ugarte (sharing the title role) are making their Almodrama debuts. But don't worry, actress Rossy de Palma and composer Alberto Iglesias are also onboard, giving Julieta the feel of vintage Pedro. Indeed, the visuals and what little we know of the plot — a chronicle of a woman's life from 1985 to 2015, with some unspoken secrets ready to be divulged — suggest a Volver-type melodrama which is as great a reference point as we could hope for.

We won't do a full on Yes/No/Maybe So because we're obviously a full on YES, but you can check out the trailer below and let us know how excited you are about Pedro's 20th feature which premieres in April in Spain, and August (!!) in the UK, suggesting we're not bound to get it Stateside until the Fall.