The best international films for the Oscars: who has the chance?

The best international films for the Oscars: who has the chance?

The Oscars are just around the corner again, and like every year, many countries are throwing their best films into the ring to clinch the coveted award for Best International Feature Film. This year, over 50 countries have announced their submissions and it is expected that the number of films in this category could rise to 85 to 90, as IMDb reported. This special category honors films produced outside the United States that contain predominantly non-English dialogue. It is a national honor for each country to select a film as an official Oscar entry, which in turn signifies global recognition.

Among the top-class films submitted so far are some real showcase projects. These include “Sentimental Value” by Joachim Trier from Norway, which has already won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. “The Secret Agent” by Kleber Mendonça Filho from Brazil, a gripping political thriller about the turbulent period of the military dictatorship, has also attracted attention. Other notable nominations include “Sound of Falling” by Mascha Schilinski from Germany and “Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny” by Jasmila Zbanic from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also worth mentioning are “Orphan” by Laszlo Nemes from Hungary and “Young Mothers” by the Dardenne brothers from Belgium, as well as “A Poet” by Simón Mesa Soto from Colombia and “The Love That Remains” by Hiynur Palmason from Iceland.

Competitive Submissions

The list of countries that have submitted their contributions is long and diverse. For example, Germany selected “The Teachers’ Lounge” by İlker Çatak, which is already nominated for an Oscar. Austria is betting on the film “Vera” by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel, while Ireland is competing with “In the Shadow of Beirut”. “The Missing” comes from the Philippines, and countries such as Mexico, Ukraine and Italy have also submitted very different films, to name just a few. The full list of submitted films is provided by Gold Derby tracked online.

Some of these films have already received excellent reviews and stood out in various festivals. “The Secret Agent” has a fantastic rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and was also awarded for Best Director and Best Actor at Cannes. The competition is therefore top-class, and the Academy will be faced with the challenge of selecting the best films from this multitude.

The deadlines for submissions

To be eligible for the Oscars, films must be released in their countries between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025. The official deadline for submissions to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, or AMPAS, is October 1st. Every year over 90 countries take part in this competition, which makes this category all the more colorful and exciting. For this reason, the next Academy Awards ceremony is eagerly awaited, as films fly to Hollywood from all over the world.

The time will soon come and the film world is looking forward to the Academy's decisions. The competitors are strong and the race for the award will certainly be exciting again. In the meantime, it remains to be seen which films will ultimately make it onto the shortlist - the cinema landscape has a lot to offer!