The dynamics behind the way the best foreign film oscar nominees are chosen, is tricky. But basicly, each country chooses one film to be eligible in the competition.Pedro Almodovar's film Volver staring Penelope Cruz has been selected as the film to represent Spain in this year's foreign film race.
This is significant becaues Volver has received significant buzz, including winning best screenplay and best actress (for the female ensamble cast) at this year's Cannes film festival.
This announcements practicly makes Volver a shoe-in at least for a foriegn film nomination.
Director Almodovar (right) is not newcomer to the Oscar race. Almodovar won the Academy Award for best original screenplay in 2003 for Hable con ella (Talk to Her), and was also nominated for best director that same year.
I usually don't stay on top of the Foreign Film Race at this stage in the game but many countries have begun announcing their selections.
Including (to name a few that have been announced):
Algeria - Indigènes (Days of Glory)
Australia - Ten Canoes
Brazil - Movies, Aspirin, and Vultures
Canada- Water
China - Curse of the Golden Flower
Japan - Hula Girls
Norway - Reprise
Phillipines - The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros
Vietnam - Pao's Story
Related Tags: Foreign Films, Oscar, Academy Awards, Volver, Pedro Almodovar, Spain, Cannes Film Festival, Hable Con Ella, Talk To Her, Algeria, Indigènes, Days of Glory, Australia, Ten Canoes, Brazil, Movies Aspirin and Vultures, Canada, Water, China, Curse of the Golden Flower, Japan, Hula Girls, Norway, Reprise, Phillipines, The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros, Vietnam, Pao's Story, Award Buzz, Movies
Word on the street has it that Mexico's going to be entering Pan's Labyrinth, which is still clearly my favorite film of the year so far. Volver was good, but del Toro's new film is hauntingly great.
ReplyDeleteThe field in general is going to be great for foreign films this year. Ten Canoes is a clear standout, and Water is Deepa Mehta's best film yet (despite the fact that it came out last year and not this year). Indigenes was also quite good.
I haven't seen either film, but going by the buzz around each of them, I do think Pan's Labyrinth might have a good chance of beating Volver. At any rate, I have to agree with Vasta. It looks like it will be a good year for foreign films.
ReplyDeleteI think that Volver is as close as possible to a sure thing for foreign film. I have heard of indigenes and I doubt that it will be well-received in France because of the controversial topic therefore making it ulikely to generate buzz over here as well. But I could be wrong.
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