details
130 min (French, Arabic)
genre
drama
starring
Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux Poulin, Maxim Gaudette and Rémy Girard.
synopsis
twins travel to the Middle East to piece together their mother's final days.
misc
Vileneuve previously directed the great short Next Floor and feature Maelstrom
prev awards
Best Canadian Feature at TIFF
last year
I Killed My Mother

details
119 min (Danish, Swedish, English)
genre
drama
starring
Ulrich Thomsen, Mikael Persbrandt, William Jøhnk Nielsen
synopsis
A Danish doctor, working in an African war zone has trouble at home as well.
misc
described as "a mediation on violence and pacifism"
prev awards
Golden Globe
last year
Terribly Happy

details
unknown (Spanish)
genre
miserabilism
starring
Javier Bardem
synopsis
Uxbal (Bardem) has cancer and that's just the start of his problems with wife, father, criminals and children.
misc
Iñárittu's past three films have received Oscar nominations in various categories.
previous awards
Cannes -Best Actor
last year
Backyard

details
94 min (Greek)
genre
surreal drama
starring
Aggeliki Papoulia and Mary Tsoni
synopsis
teen siblings are totally isolated in their parent's country estate.
previous awards
Jury prizes at 6 fests
last year
Slaves in their Bonds

details
138 min (French, Arabic)
genre
political family drama (post WW II)
starring
Sami Bouajila, Jamel Debbouze, Roschdy Zem and Sabrina Seyvecou
synopsis
An Algerian family, separated for years, is reunited in Paris. Algeria's struggle for independence from France also involved.
misc
Bouchareb is a past nominee in this category.
prev awards
...
last year
did not submit