Oscar Race: The International Film Contenders

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlist of 15 movies vying for the best international feature film at the 97th Oscars. Over 85 countries submitted their films, but a few stood out and made the cut easily. These include French film Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard, Denmark's The Girl With the Needle by Magnus von Horn, and Iranian-set The Seed of the Sacred Fig submitted by Germany. Festival favorites like Brazil’s I’m Still Here, which won at Cannes, and Ireland's Kneecap, a hit at Sundance, also made the list. The Czech film Waves, a historical thriller, and Iceland's Touch, a melodrama, were surprises among the shortlisted films. Meanwhile, popular films like Thailand’s How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies and Mexico's Sujo were snubbed despite their successes.

The shortlist shows a strong European presence, with 11 European films making the cut. Only two Asian films and one African film were shortlisted, showcasing a lack of geographical diversity. Films like Dahomey from Senegal and Flow from Latvia managed to make it despite the category's preference for traditional dramas over documentaries and animations. Voting for the final nominations starts on January 8 and runs through January 12, with nominees announced on January 17. The final list of 15 films includes titles from countries like Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, and more.

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