International Contenders Update

Since the last round up 6 more countries have announced Oscar submissions bringing the total of competing films to 43.

 

• BELGIUM - Working Girls  A drama about three women from France crossing the border daily to Belgium for sex work
• INDONESIA - Impetigore (previously discussed) Usually there's a random horror movie somewhere in the submission list but this year we have not one but two Asian horror movies (the other is Roh/Soul from Malaysia). The only horror movie we can think of to be successfully nominated in this category was a very long time ago with Japan's Kwaidan (1964). 
• IRAN - Sun Children (previously discussed) 
• KENYA - The Letter This is the first time Kenya has submitted a documentary (the nomination for Honeyland last year seems to have embolded various countries to send docs as it looks like there will be more of them than usual this year)
• LESOTHO -This is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection First submission from this country! It's one of only three independent states on earth that are entirely surrounded by another single country (in this case South Africa) -- they call them "enclaved countries", so it's the first submission from any enclaved country actually (the others are San Marino and Vatican City). The film is about an 80 year old woman who fights the construction of a reservoir in her village
• TURKEY - Miracle in Cel No 7  This is a loose remake of a South Korean film of the same name about a mentally disabled man who is wrongly imprisoned. The original is just 7 years old and it's already been remade by Turkey, The Philippines, and Indonesia.

More details on the Oscar charts and also a visual overview of the whole field at Letterboxd

Comments

[Evan]

Come through, Lesotho! "This is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection" is probably my favorite movie from this season's fall festivals, even over the buzzy American titles. The composition is amazing, the story engaging, and I couldn't take my eyes off the lead actress. I don't toss this word around lightly... I think it's a masterpiece.

I have no idea what this year's International Film screening process is going to be like for the Academy but if they watch it, I think this is one to keep an eye on for a nomination.

[Jason]

I wrote about Impetigore for my Horror Actresisng" series over here! Director Joko Anwar is a big deal for Indonesia, he's gonna be a horror legend. Indonesia is having a big horror genre moment, I am glad they are embracing it like this.

[Rama]

Impetigore also just got the most nominations ever at the Citras, Indonesian version of the Oscars.
It is legitimately a big thing here, though I really doubt its chances to actually win at the Citras, or even get shortlisted at the Oscars.

[NATHANIEL R]

Rama -- ooh is there a link somewhere where i can see all those nominees? I've never heard of the Citras before.

[par]

come for the film stats, leave knowing what an enclaved country is - tfe delivers on so many levels!

[Carlos]

Nathaniel, not sure if you've covered it (I might have missed it), but Spain also just announced they selected 'The Endless Trench' as their submission.

[Glenn Dunks]

THE LETTER may just be one of the films I talk about later this week for the Doc Corner column, ahem...

[Rod]

Impetigore is playing in Shudder.
Miracle in Cell No. 7 is on Netflix.
The Endless Trench is on Netflix.
What We Wanted is on Netflix.
La Llorona is on Shudder.
Stories From the Chestnut Woods is on Crave (Canada)
The Man Standing Next is on iTunes.
A Sun is on Netflix.

Any other films out now?

[Marcos]

Hi, Nat,

When is the deadline for countries to submit their entries?

Thanks!