We already shared the EFA's People Choice nominees but it's important to remember that that's a special award, quite apart from their actual nominations. In their slightly tortured roll-out we get part two, the long list. These are the titles that form the "selection list"... they have to do it this way before nominations from a sheer numbers perspective. Add up the annual releases from dozens and dozens of countries and you have hundreds of films, you know? Here are the 52 films their nominators will be considering. We've divvied it up by country for you and if they're already a part of the Oscar race or on TIFF's schedule, we'll say so. The titles will be a mix of familiar to you and "what is that?" to anyone reading because who can keep up with every country's cinema?
Because there are so many films, though, it's all after the jump...
Titles from Finland, Iceland, and Czech Republic
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
The High Sun tells three different love stories across decades in neighboring villages plagued with inter-ethnic hatred
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
They have not selected their Oscar entry yet
Georgia
Germany
Greece
I'm skipping "The Lobster" at TIFF because it'll be playing at NYFF but it will hurt. So eager!
Iceland
Israel
Italy
Lithuania
Summer of Sangaile is a teenage LGBT drama about girls who meet at an aeronautical show near a lakeside villa
Kosovo
The Netherlands
Neither of these are the Dutch Oscar submission - they went with a film called Paradise Suite which is also at TIFF
Norway
Both of their titles are in English - so none of the films they considered sending to Oscar this season are represented
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Most of us thought Romania would select "Treasure" for Oscar consideration but they went with "Aferim!" a black and white adventure about the search for a missing Gypsy slave
Russia
Serbia
"No One's Child" is about a feral boy raised by wolves returning to civilization... of a kind.
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Turkey's "Mustang" bears some similarities to "The Virgin Suicides" as their home becomes a prison
UK
Which do you think will win the EFA nominations?
As a reminder their Best Picture winners this century have been: Ida (2014), The Great Beauty (2013), Amour (2012), Melancholia (2011), The Ghost Writer (2010), The White Ribbon (2009), Gomorra (2008), 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007), The Lives of Others (2006), Caché (2005), Head-On (2004), Good-bye Lenin! (2003), Talk To Her (2002), Amelie (2001), Dancer in the Dark (2000)... which you have to admit is a mighty stellar roster with a ton of Cannes and/or Oscar Foreign Language Film history crossover. So they're always worth keeping an eye on. It's tough to say what might win their nominations this year though Sweden's A Pigeon Sat on a Branch is likely given the People's Choice citation and Italy's Youth is another high profile possibility given its Cannes reception. A nomination here is no guarantee that Oscar will nominate you for in the Foreign Language Film category (though Oscar historically prefers European cinema to Asian, Middle Eastern or South American cinema) as there are as many high profile snubs as high profile correlations) but it doesn't hurt.
P.S. Don't forget to vote on their people's choice award to be entered to win a trip to the awards show in Berlin.