Today, Tuesday December 17th, 2024, Academy awards annouced the shortlist for the Best International Film Oscar.
Representing a kaleidoscope of various cultural perspectives, emotional depths and bold storytelling, these 15 films — selected from 85 eligible submissions — offer voters (and audiences) a rare opportunity to engage with global cinema.
From the poetic minimalism of Latvia’s animated “Flow” to the audacious musical hybrid of France’s “Emilia Pérez,” this year’s slate will be among the most competitive in recent memory, especially since many of them stand a very good chance of landing additional nominations outside the category. Among the other prominent inclusions are Ireland’s “Kneecap,” a rebellious biopic of the eponymous rap group, Brazil’s hopeful and tragic “I’m Still Here,” and Germany’s timely, politically charged thriller “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,”
Some notable snubs include Portugal’s “Grand Tour,” which won best director for Miguel Gomes at the Cannes Film Festival last year, in addition to Mexico’s “Sujo” and India’s “Lucky Ladies.” Many felt the country should have selected the Cannes runner-up “All We Imagine as Light,” which will compete in all other categories including best picture.
- “Armand” (IFC Films) from Norway
- “Dahomey” (Mubi) from Senegal
- “Emilia Pérez” (Netflix) from France
- “Flow” (Janus Films and Sideshow) from Latvia
- “From Ground Zero” (The distributor is Watermelon Pictures) from Palestine
- “The Girl With the Needle” (Mubi) from Denmark
- “How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies” (Well Go USA Entertainment) from Thailand
- “I’m Still Here” (Sony Pictures Classics) from Brazil
- “Kneecap” (Sony Pictures Classics) from Ireland
- “Santosh” (Metrograph Pictures) from United Kingdom
- “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (Neon) from Germany
- “Touch” (Focus Features) from Iceland
- “Universal Language” (Oscilloscope Laboratories) from Canada
- “Waves” (No U.S. Distribution) from Czech Republic
- “Vermiglio” (Janus Films) from Italy