The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has whittled down a field of 86 eligible films for this year’s Best International Feature Film Oscar to a shortlist of 15 — see the list below. The group now will advance to the next round of voting to determine the eventual field of five nominees.
Most notably among the selections announced today is a first-time inclusion for a film from Iraq, The President’s Cake. Directed by Hasan Hadi, it debuted in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes, where it won the Audience Award and the overall festival’s Camera d’Or for Best Debut Feature. Iraq previously had submitted candidates to the Oscars on and off since 2005, but none had ever advanced.
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In late May, Sony Pictures Classics acquired all rights to The President’s Cake in North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and India.
Also appearing on the International Feature shortlist are such expected titles as Sentimental Value (Norway), The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sirât (Spain), No Other Choice (sOUTH Korea) and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia).
Not making the cut were such titles as Italy’s Familia, Hong Kong’s The Last Dance and the UK’s My Father’s Shadow.
Documentaries left off the shortlist for International but included on the doc shortlist include 2000 Meters to Andriivka.
Here’s the full list of the films shortlisted for Best International Feature:
Argentina: Belén
Brazil: The Secret Agent
France: It Was Just an Accident
Germany: Sound of Falling
India: Homebound
Iraq: The President’s Cake
Japan: Kokuho
Jordan: All That’s Left of You
Norway: Sentimental Value
Palestine: Palestine 36
South Korea: No Other Choice
Spain: Sirât
Switzerland: Late Shift
Taiwan: Left-Handed Girl
Tunisia: The Voice of Hind Rajab