Hong Kong, Thailand and India have all unveiled their entries for the best foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards.

The Hong Kong Federation of Motion Film Producers selected Johnnie To’s Life Without Principle, which premiered at Venice last year and won best supporting actor and actress for Lo Hoi Peng and So Hung Suen at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards.

The Media Asia thriller, which stars Lau Ching Wan, Riche Jen and Denise Ho in the main roles, had its Hong Kong theatrical run from October to December last year. Hong Kong’s 2011 Oscar submission, Ann Hui’s A Simple Life, also premiered at Venice last year but had a qualifying run in September 2011 and its main theatrical release after Life Without Principle in March this year.

Meanwhile, the Thai Film Directors’ Association announced that Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s Headshot is Thailand’s entry for best foriegn-language film consideration.

Produced by Local Color Films and Paris-based Memento Films, which also handled international sales, the noir thriller is still playing the festival circuit after premiering at Toronto 2011. It also scooped four prizes including best director and best actor at Thailand’s main film awards in April.

The Film Federation of India has announced that Anurag Basu’s Barfi! is India’s selection for the Academy Awards. Currently a hit at the Indian box office, the Disney UTV release stars Ranbir Kapoor as a deaf mute and Priyanka Chopra as an autistic girl. The film has grossed more than $10m in its first week of release.

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