Hong Kong chooses A Simple Life for Oscar race, China selects The Flowers Of War

Hong Kong has chosen Ann Hui’s A Simple Life as the territory’s contender for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2012 Academy Awards. 

The film, starring Deanie Ip and Andy Lau, follows an old lady who devotes her life to a rich family, working as their maid.  The film won Ip a best actress title at this year’s Venice Film Festival.

The Federation of Film Producers of Hong Kong chose A Simple Life over Peter Chan’s martial arts film Wu Xia and Alan Mak’s action-drama Overheard 2. The film is now undergoing small-scale screening sessions in order to qualify.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yimou’s The Flowers Of War (formerly Heroes of Nanking), starring Christian Bale, will represent mainland China in the foreign language Oscar race. 

China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has yet to officially announce the country’s candidate. However, the film has just started a one-week screening session today in Beijing and Beijing’s film industry circle as well as Zhang Zimou’s Beijing New Pictures Film have also confirmed that The Flowers Of War will join the competition.

Taiwan’s Government Information Office has selected war epic Warrior of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale as Taiwan’s Oscar contender. According to director Wei Te-sheng’s ARS Film Production, the film will participate in the Oscar race in its original length (four ann a half hours), instead of the international version (two and a half hours) which premiered in Venice Film Festival.

In Vietnam, the country’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has selected historical film Thang Long Aspiration as the country’s representative. The film, directed by, Luu Trong Nin, won big at Vietnam’s Golden Kite Awards last year. 

The Film Academy of the Philippines selected first-time filmmaker Marlon Rivera’s mockumentary Woman In A Septic Tank.