Foreign Film Long List Overachieving Recap!
Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 3:00PM 
If the Academy is on the same time table they were last year with the Foreign Language Film volunteer committee we should know the 9 finalists from the 80-wide foreign submission list before the weekend. But before we get there, let's look back on where we've been. It's the most coverage we've ever done for one of our favorite categories so we hope you've been reading along and trying to see what you could (these films are often elusive, we know).
Much thanks to Jose who has been invaluable in seeking out interviews. Catch up on the coverage like so...
"everything u ever wanted to know about the foreign film category *...but were afraid to ask" Pt 1 81 Trailers | Pt 2 Female Directors & Debuts | Pt 3 Zoology | Pt 4 I know that face! | Pt 5 More Trivia!
THE NOMINEES
embrace of the serpent
Colombia, Embrace of the Serpent REVIEW & INTERVIEW
Denmark, A War PILOU ASBAEK & INTERVIEW
France, Mustang REVIEW & INTERVIEW
Hungary, Son of Saul REVIEW & INTERVIEW
Jordan, Theeb INTERVIEW
goodnight mommy
THE OTHER SUBMISSIONS
Afghanistan, Utopia DISQUALIFIED | Albania, Bota | Algeria, Twilight of Shadows
Argentina, The Clan REVIEWED | Australia, Arrows of the Thunder Dragon
Austria, Goodnight Mommy INTERVIEW | Bangladesh, Jalal’s Story
Belgium, The Brand New Testament | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Our Everyday Story
Brazil, The Second Mother INTERVIEW | Bulgaria, The Judgment
Cambodia, The Last Reel | Canada, Félix and Meira INTERVIEW
Chile, The Club REVIEW | China, Go Away Mr. Tumor
Costa Rica, Imprisoned | Croatia High Sun | Czech Republic Home Care
Dominican Republic, Sand Dollars REVIEW & INTERVIEW | Estonia, 1944
Ethiopia, Lamb | Finland, The Fencer | Georgia, Moira
Germany, Labyrinth of Lies REVIEW & INTERVIEW
Greece, Xenia | Guatemala, Ixcanul REVIEW | Hong Kong, To the Fore
Iceland, Rams INTERVIEW | India, Court | Iran, Muhammad: The Messenger of God
Iraq, Memories on Stone | Ireland, Viva
Israel, Baba Joon REVIEW | Italy, Don't Be Bad INTERVIEW
Ivory Coast, Run | Japan, 100 Yen Love | Kazakhstan, Stranger
Kosovo, Babai | Kyrgyzstan, Heavenly Nomadic | Latvia, Modris | Lebanon, Void
Lithuania, Summer of Sangaile | Luxembourg, Baby (A)lone | Macedonia, Honey Night
Malaysia, Men Who Save the World | Mexico, 600 Miles INTERVIEW
Montenegro, You Carry Me | Morocco, Aida | Nepal, Talakjung vs Tulke
Netherlands, The Paradise Suite | Norway, The Wave REVIEW & INTERVIEW
Pakistan, Moor | Palestine, The Wanted 18 | Paraguay, Cloudy Times | Peru, NN
Philippines, Heneral Luna INTERVIEW | Poland, 11 Minutes
Portugal, Arabian Nights - Vol 2 REVIEW |Romania, Aferim! | Russia, Sunstroke
Serbia, Enclave | Singapore, 7 Letters | Slovakia, Goat INTERVIEW
Slovenia, The Tree | South Africa, The Two of Us | South Korea, The Throne
Spain, Flowers INTERVIEW | Sweden, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch... REVIEW
Switzerland, Iraqi Odyssey | Taiwan, The Assassin REVIEW & GOLDEN HORSE
Thailand, How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) | Turkey, Sivas
United Kingdom, Under Milk Wood | Uruguay, A Moonless Night INTERVIEW
Venezuela, Gone With the River | Vietnam, Jackpot
the assassin
FOREIGN CHARTS (FOR EVEN MORE INFORMATION)
Reader Comments (8)
My guessed are Brand New Testament, Second Mother, Félix and Meira, A War, Mustang, Labyrinth of Lies, Son of Saul, Rams, and Theeb. Watch two of them make it. Coverage has been great, and rare!
A month ago on Twitter I predicted Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia*, India, Jordan, Hungary, Iceland, Sweden* and Taiwan* with * denoting presumed executive saves. i'm gonna stay with those, although MUSTANG has been doing good for itself and is very good so I'd like to see it there.
https://twitter.com/glenndunks/status/670961436726837249
I'm predicting Embrace of the Serpent (Colombia), A War (Denmark), Mustang (France), Labyrinth of Lies (Germany), Ixcanul Volcano (Guatemala), Son of Saul (Hungary), Rams (Iceland), Theeb (Jordan), and The Assassin (Taiwan).
I feel most confident about Son of Saul (duh) and Rams. The Second Mother and The Wave are my alternates.
I previously had The Second Mother in there, but it's giving me Wadjda vibes. I wonder if it'll be the surprise audience favorite that the Foreign Language voters don't go for even though it's fairly conventional just like they prefer their moves to be.
It's pretty crazy that any of the films from greater Scandinavia (so Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark) all have a chance.
This list is amazing. One stop shop! Thank you.
Er... The list just came out! Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, and Jordan are in.
Thank you so much for all the work and effort you put into covering the non-english films. It is highly appreciated!
Exactly: thank you so much for your coverage of the FLF race !
Thrilled for Colombia: they made the shortlist for the first time ever!
Hey, I got six. Not bad!