Often including the best films across the entire ceremony, The Academy announced their Oscar shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film category today. Pared down from 81 selected films, we now have nine features, which will eventually be cut down to five nominations, followed by the winner on Oscar night.
The shortlist includes personal favorites such as Son of Saul, Mustang, Theeb, A War, and The Brand New Testament. Disappointingly left off the list is Hou Hsiao-hsien‘s The Assassin, Roy Andersson’s A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, Miguel Gomes‘ Arabian Nights – Volume 2, The Desolate One, and Pablo Larraín‘s The Club, but what’s left is certainly a fine batch of films. Check it out below.
Belgium, The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael
Colombia, Embrace of the Serpent, Ciro Guerra
Denmark, A War, Tobias Lindholm
Finland, The Fencer, Klaus Härö
France, Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Germany, Labyrinth of Lies, Giulio Ricciarelli
Hungary, Son of Saul, László Nemes
Ireland, Viva, Paddy Breathnach
Jordan, Theeb, Naji Abu Nowar
See trailers for all the above films, and our reviews, here, and watch a Son of Saul talk below.