Entries for the 2025 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
The 97th Academy Awards is set to take place on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (over 40 minutes) produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between November 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 2, 2024.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is scheduled to be announced on December 17, 2024, with the final five nominees announced on January 17, 2025.
The 2024 awards saw 88 submissions with the five nominated films comprising Japan’s Perfect Days, Italy’s Io Capitano, Spain’s Society Of The Snow, Germany’s The Teachers’ Lounge and the eventual winner The Zone Of Interest from the UK.
Latest submissions
South Africa: Old Righteous Blues (Muneera Sallies)
The country’s 20th submission centres around two warring Christmas choirs and one man’s mission to reunite the bands and heal tensions within the community. Carol Shore penned the screenplay and produces the feature alongside Dumi Gumbi and Cati Weinek. Indigenous Film Distribution is distributing the title. South Africa won the Oscar in 2005 with Gavin Hood’s Tsotsi after securing a nomination the year before with Darrell Roodt’s Yesterday. International sales: KykNet
Haiti: Kidnapping Inc. (Bruno Mourral)
The country’s third-ever Oscar submission first premiered at Sundance and played further festivals including Fantasia where it won best Quebec feature and a special mention in the first feature award. The story centres around two criminals who are tasked with transporting the kidnapped son of a Presidential candidate. When the victim is accidentally killed, the pair set out to find a lookalike. The cast includes Jasmuel Andri, Rolaphton Mercure, Anabel Lopez and Ashley Laraque. Kidnapping Inc. is produced by France’s Promenades Films, BHM Films, Canada’s Peripheria and Haiti’s Muska Films. International sales: Muska Films
Cameroon: Kismet (Ngang Romanus Ntseh)
This is the director’s second time representing Cameroon and the country’s seventh submission overall. The story centres around a young woman who risks everything to bridge the gap between two warring factions and protect her love. It is produced by Nsoh Piepanse Niba. International sales: TBC
Bosnia and Herzegovina: My Late Summer (Danis Tanović)
The filmmaker has a strong track record for his country, having previously won an Oscar in 2002 with No Man’s and made the shortlist in 2013 with An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker. His latest feature, which opened Sarajevo FIlm Festival, follows a woman who travels to a remote island to resolve an inheritance dispute. Instead, she confronts her past and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and love. My Late Summer is produced by Croatia’s Propeler Film in co-production with Romania’s Tangaj Production, Bosnia and Herzegovia’s Obala Art Centar, Serbia’s Bas Celik and Slovakia’s Tramal Films. The country was also nominated in 2020 with Quo Vadis, Aida? International sales: Propeler Film
Paraguay: The Last (Sebastián Peña Escobar)
In this documentary, the filmmaker joins two scientists on an expedition to Paraguay’s natural region of Gran Chaco where large-scale deforestation and wildfire have put the area under serious threat. The film premiered at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) back in 2023 and screened at further festivals including Munich Dok.fest, Malaga and Mediterrane. It is produced by La Babosa Cine with Uruguay outfits Bocacha Films and Mutante Cine, and France’s La Fabrica Nocturna Cinema. The country has not secured a nomination for any of its seven previous submissions. International sales: Bocacha Films
Tunisia: Take My Breath (Nada Mezni Hafaiedh)
After making the shortlist last year with Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, which also landed a best documentary nomination, Tunisia returns with a drama surrounding a 23-year-old seamstress who runs away when their intersex identity is exposed. The film had its world premiere at Warsaw Film Festival. It stars Amina Ben Ismail and is produced by Leyth Production and Hamzeh Mysthique Films. Ben Hania scored a nomination for Tunisia in 2020 for The Man Who Sold His Skin. International sales: Mad Distribution
AMERICAS
Argentina: Kill The Jockey (Luis Ortega)
Read the full article here. International sales: Protagonist Pictures
Bolivia: Own Hand (Rodrigo “Gory” Patino)
Based on a true story, this film surrounds the lynching of six suspected thieves in a small Bolivian town. It is told through the eyes of the prosecutor responsible for the punishment, one of the young men accused, and his father. Own Hand is produced by Macando Art. Bolivia has been submitting since 1995 and is yet to land a nomination. International sales: TBC
Brazil: I’m Still Here (Walter Salles)
Adapted from Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s 2015 novel, this Portuguese-language drama premiered at Venice Film Festival where it won the Golden Osella for best screenplay. Based on a true story, it surrounds the disappearance of Brazilian Labour Party congressman Rubens Paiva as the family deal with the aftermath. I’m Still Here is produced by VideoFilmes, RT Features and Mact Productions in co-production with Arte France and Conspiracao. This is Salles’ fourth time representing Brazil with the filmmaker behind one of the country’s four nominations - in 1998 for Central Station. The Veterans represents worldwide rights, and brokered a US deal with CAA to Sony Pictures Classics. International sales: The Veterans
Canada: Universal Language (Matthew Rankin)
Read the full article here. International sales: Best Friend Forever
Chile: In Her Place (Maite Alberdi)
The filmmaker will hope to continue her Oscar success, having been nominated twice before in best documentary The Mole Agent in 2020 and The Eternal Memory in 2024 - the former also earning her spot on the international shortlist. Making her fiction debut, In Her Place is a crime drama based on the true story of a famous writer who is put on trial for killing her lover. It will have its world premiere in competition at San Sebastian before landing on Netflix. It is produced by Pablo Larraín, who was nominated for Chile in 2012 with No, and his brother Juan de Dios Larraín at Fabula. Elisa Zulueta and Francisca Lewin lead the cast and are joined by Marcial Tagle, Gabriel Urzúa, Pablo Macaya. Chile won the Oscar in 2017 with Sebastián Lelio’s A Fantastic Woman. International sales: Netflix
Colombia: La Suprema (Felipe Holguin)
The country’s 34th entry is set in a remote village without electricity where one teenage girl convinces everyone to find a way to watch her estranged uncle compete in a boxing match. The film premiered in Toronto Discovery and has also screened at Warsaw and Miami. It is produced by Cumbia Films, Ferviente Films, Telepacifico and HD Cinema. Colombia was nominated once in 2015 for Embrace Of The Serpent and made the shortlist in 2018 for Birds Of Passage. International sales: TBC
Costa Rica: Memories Of A Burning Body (Antonella Sudasassi Furniss)
Winner of the Berlinale Panorama audience award, this Spanish-language drama centres around three elderly women who rediscover their bodies and sexuality through the lens of one 65-year-old woman. It is a co-production between Costa Rica’s Substance and Spain’s PlayLab and was supported by Costa Rica’s El Fauno national fund, Ibermedia and Catalan fund ICEC. The film won a handful of prizes at Ventana Sur in its post-production stages. Cast includes Sol Carballo and Paulina Bernini. This is Furniss’ second time representing the country at the Oscars after her debut The Awakening Of The Arts was submitted in 2019, with Costa Rica yet to secure a nomination. International sales: Bendita Film Sales
Dominican Republic: Aire: Just Breathe (Leticia Tonos)
Tonos’ fourth time representing her country, this sci-fi feature is set in 2147 and follows a biologist who attempts to save humanity by inseminating herself using artificial intelligence. The film had its world premiere at Rotterdam and has also screened at Cannes, Bucheon and Galway festivals. It stars Paz Vega and is produced by Producciones Línea Espiral, Lantica Media and Spain’s Contrasentido PC. The country has submitted 16 times with no nominations. International sales: Latido Films
Ecuador: Behind the Mist (Sebastián Cordero)
Ivan Vallejo, the first Ecuadorian to reach the top of Mount Everest in 1999, decided to commemorate the achievement with a documentary made by Cordero. The film chronicles their journey to Nepal to face the mountain again. Cordero is known for features including Ratas, Ratones, Rateros, which played at Venice and Toronto in 1999; Cronicas, selected for Cannes in 2004; and Rage, winner of the special jury prize at Tokyo in 2009. It marks Ecuador’s 12th submission to the Oscars, which has yet to make the shortlist. International sales: TBC
Mexico: Sujo (Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez)
Read the full article here. International sales: Alpha Violet
Panama: Wake Up Mom (Arianne Benedetti)
This thriller follows a mother who stops at nothing to retrieve her daughter after she goes missing following an accident. Benedetti previously represented Panama in 2017 with Beyond Brotherhood. She wrote, directed, produced and stars in Wake Up Mom which also stars her real-life daughter Mila Romedetti and Erick Elías. It is produced by TreeHouse Studios Panamá. The country has submitted 10 times previously, making the shortlist in 2021 with Plaza Cathedral. International sales: TBC
Peru: Yana-Wara (Óscar Catacora, Tito Catacora)
Óscar made history in 2018 with Eternity - the first film in the Aymara language and Peru’s Oscar submission for that year. The filmmaker passed away in the early production stages of his second Aymara-language feature Yana-Wara, with his uncle Tito taking the helm to carry on with the shoot. The story centres around an old man tried for murdering his 13-year-old granddaughter and the stories of abuse that surface during the trial. The film had its European premiere at Malaga Film Festival. It is produced by Cine Aymara Studios with a cast made up entirely of non-professional actors. Peru was nominated for an Oscar in 2009 for The Milk Of Sorrow. International sales: Quechua Films
Uruguay: The Door Is There (Juan Ponce de Leon, Facundo Ponce de Leon)
Marking the county’s 23rd submission is a documentary surrounding a friendship between two men as one of them helps the other to die. The film premiered in San Sebastian’s Made In Spain strand last year and went on to screen at Malaga Film Festival. Mueca Films produces with Spain’s A Contracorriente Films. Uruguay was nominated in 1992 with Adolfo Aristarain’s A Place In The World though it was subsequently rescinded after an investigation uncovered that the production was almost entirely Argentinian. International sales: TBC
Venezuela: Children of Las Brisas (Marianela Maldonado)
Three children from an impoverished neighbourhood vow to become professional musicians in this documentary exploring the power of resistance and resilience in the face of an autocratic regime. It first premiered at Sheffield DocFest back in 2022 and has screened at several other documentary festivals since including Doc NYC and DMZ. The film was produced by Luisa De La Ville and co-produced by Luc Martin Gousset and Andy Glynne in partnership with PBS’s VOCES. International sales: TBC
ASIA-PACIFIC
Armenia: Yasha And Leonid Brezhnev (Edgar Baghdasaryan)
This comedy drama follows a retired Armenian man who is reluctant to accept to end of the USSR and imagines political conversations with former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and other prominent communist figures. The film premiered at Yerevan’s Golden Apricot International Film Festival and won five prizes at Armenia’s Anahit National Film Awards, including best director for Baghdasaryan and best actor for Mais Sarkisyan. It marks Baghdasaryan’s second time in the Oscar race after his historical drama Lengthy Night was submitted in 2019. Armenia made the shortlist for the first time last year with Michael A Goorjian’s Amerikatsi. This is the country’s 14th entry to the Oscars, though it has been disqualified twice, in 1991 and 2016, for not meeting the submission criteria. International sales: TBC
Bangladesh: The Wrestler (Iqbal H Chowdhury)
Set in a remote coastal village in Bangladesh, the story centres on an eccentric old fisherman who trains rigorously in a traditional form of wrestling, boli khela, before taking on the village champion.. Nasir Uddin Khan takes the title role. The debut feature of Toronto-based Bangladeshi filmmaker Chowdhury received its premiere at Busan International Film Festival in 2023, where it was named joint winner in the New Currents competition, and was selected for Shanghai earlier this year. The lead producer is Piplu R Khan for Applebox Films. The country has previously submitted 19 times and is yet to receive a nomination. International sales: bolithewrestler@gmail.com
Cambodia: Meeting With Pol Pot (Rithy Panh)
This is the Cambodian-French director’s fourth submission to the Oscars including a nomination in 2013 for The Missing Picture. The film is inspired by journalist Elizabeth Becker’s book When The War Was Over and follows three French journalists who were invited to interview Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot in 1978. The film first showed at Cannes in Premiere and also screened in competition at Mediterrane festival. The cast includes Grégoire Colin, Irene Jacob and Cyril Gueï, while production companies are CDP and Anupheap Production. Cambodia made the shortlist in 2022 with Davy Chou’s Return To Seoul. International sales: Playtime
China: The Sinking Of The Lisbon Maru (Fang Li)
The county’s first documentary submission centres around a little-known event in 1942 when Chinese fishermen rescued nearly 380 British prisoners who were on board a Japanese transport ship. The ship was torpedoed by the US Navy, killing 800 British soldiers while the rest were rescued and hidden by the fishermen. The film opened Shanghai film festival earlier this year and reportedly earned $5m at China’s box office. It marks China’s 38th entry to the Oscsr with two films nabbing a nomination – Hero in 2002 and Ju Dou in 1990. International sales: TBC
Hong Kong: Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In (Soi Cheang)
Read the full article here. International sales: Media Asia
India: Lost Ladies (Laapataa Ladies) (Kiran Rao)
Set in 2001, this light-hearted satire on the patriarchy follows the mayhem that ensues when two young brides are mistakenly swapped prior to their wedding days. Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goel play the veiled young women at the heart of a mix-up in a cast that also includes Sparsh Shrivastava and Chhaya Kadam. It marks Rao’s second feature after debut Dhobi Ghat and premiered at Toronto in 2023. Reliance Industries’ Indian content division Jio Studios released the Hindi-language drama in India and the US in January, recording a successful box office run locally, and was later picked up by Netflix. India has previously landed three nominations in the category with Mehboob Khan’s Mother India in 1957 (its first submission), Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! in 1988, and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan in 2001. International sales: Jio Studios
Indonesia: Women From Rote Island (Jeremias Nyangoen)
The country’s 25th submission to the Oscars follows an illegal migrant worker coming to terms with a sexual assault upon returning to her home island for her father’s funeral. It had its world premiere at Busan and went on to screen at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) where it picked up the jury prize and four awards at the Indonesia Film Festival, including best film and best director. The film is produced by Bintang Cahaya Sinema and Langit Terang Sinema. Indonesia has yet to secure a nomination. International sales: TBC
Japan: Cloud (Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
This thriller follows a young man who resells goods online, who finds himself at the centre of a series of mysterious events that put his life at risk. It was selected to premiere out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, where filmmaker Kurosawa previously won the Silver Lion for best director with Wife Of A Spy in 2020. His past accolades also include the Cannes Un Certain Regard jury prize for Tokyo Sonata (2008) and the Un Certain Regard award for best director for Journey To The Shore (2015). Cloud is produced by Nikkatsu Corporation and Tokyo Theatres Company, and has been acquired for France, Spain, Italy and Taiwan. Japan received an Oscar nomination in this category last year with Wim Wenders Perfect Days and won the Academy Award in 2022 with Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car. Yojiro Takita’s Departures previously won the Oscar for Japan in 2008. International sales: Nikkatsu
Kazakhstan: Bauryna Salu (Askhat Kuchencherekov)
This coming-of-age drama first premiered at San Sebastian 2023 in the New Directors strand and won best youth feature film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. The story centres around a 12-year-old boy who goes to live with his parents for the first time after being raised by his grandmother. It is produced by Kuchencherekov and Anna Katchko through Askhat Film. Out of the country’s 17 submissions, one film has been nominated - 2007’s Mongol – while 2018’s Ayka made the shortlist. International sales: Wide Management
Kyrgyzstan: Heaven Is Beneath Mother’s Feet (Ruslan Akun)
After its submission last year was ruled to be ineligible, Kyrgyzstan has ensured this year’s entry qualifies for the category with a film that opened in March, within the Academy’s release window. Locally titled Beyish Enenin Tamanynda, the drama centres on a 35-year-old man whose mental development stopped when he was eight. Wanting to ensure his elderly mother can go to heaven, he sets off on foot with her on a journey to Mecca. It marks the 17th entry by the country since 1998, which has yet to make the shortlist. International sales: TBC
Malaysia: Abang Adik (Jin Ong)
The feature directorial debut of Jin Ong is a neo-noir crime drama that tells the story of two undocumented orphans in Malaysia, Abang who is deaf and his indignant younger brother Adik. Together, they struggle in a poverty-stricken and crime-ridden environment until an accident unbalances their relationship. Starring Wu Kang-ren and Jack Tan, the film proved a box office hit and received seven nominations at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards, with Wu winning best actor. It also became the first feature from Malaysia to win the top Golden Mulberry award at Udine’s Far East Film Festival. This is Malaysia’s ninth Oscar entry, with no nominations from the previous submissions. International sales: Applause Entertainment
Mongolia: If Only I Could Hibernate (Zoljargal Purevdash)
This feature debut made history at Cannes film festival last year where it was the first Mongolian film to play in official selection, competing in Un Certain Regard. It centres around a teenage boy abandoned by his mother in the middle of winter who must look after his siblings while competing in a physics competition at school. Further festival outings have included Karlovy Vary, Shanghai, El Gouna and Jerusalem – winning a special mention at the latter. If Only I Could Hibernate is produced by Purevdash’s Mongolian company Amygdala Films, and Paris-based Urban Factory. The film marks Mongolia’s ninth entry to the Oscars with the country yet to secure a nomination. International sales: Urban Sales
Nepal: Shambhala (Min Bahadur Bham)
Shambhala became the first Nepali film to play in Competition at a major film festival when it debuted at Berlin in February; and was the Berlinale’s first South Asian Competition entry in three decades. Set in a polyandrous Himalayan village, the film follows a pregnant woman who goes seeking her vanished husband, in the company of her monk brother-in-law. It was shot in the Upper Dolpo region of the Himalayas, between 4,200 to 6,000 metres above sea level. Nepal’s only Oscar nomination or shortlisting from 13 previous entries came with its first submission, Eric Valli’s Himalaya/Caravan for the 2000 ceremony. International sales: Best Friend Forever
Pakistan: The Glassworker (Usman Riaz)
This hand-drawn animation revolves around the life of a young glassblower in training and his relationships over the years, as his country goes through war and strife. The film received its world premiere in competition at Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June. It is produced by Spain’s Manuel Cristóbal, whose credits include the acclaimed Bunuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles, Khizer Riaz of Mano Animation Studios and India’s Awedacious Originals. This marks the country’s 13th entry to the Oscars and while it has not picked up any nominations, Pakistan was shortlisted last year with Saim Sadiq’s Joyland. International sales: Charades
The Philippines: And So It Begins (Ramona S. Diaz)
The country’s first documentary submission centres around the 2022 presidential election when Leni Robredo was up against populist right-wing leader Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. The film had its world premiere at Sundance in January with further screenings at CPH:DOX and Thessaloniki. Diaz produced the documentary through her own company Cine Diaz, with Solar Pictures distributing in the Philippines. International sales: Cinephil
Singapore: La Luna (M Raihan Halim)
A city girl opens a lingerie shop in a conservative village in this Malay-language comedy-drama. The Singapore-Malaysia co-production had its world premiere at Tokyo International Film Festival and played as the closing title of the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The cast led by Shaheizy Sam, known for box office hits Polis Evo 3 and Malbatt, and Sharifah Aamani. It marks the second feature of director Raihan after 2014 wrestling comedy Banting. Singapore has yet to secure a nomination in this category of the Oscars. La Luna marks its 18th submission. International sales: Clover Films
South Korea: 12.12: The Day (Kim Sung-soo)
Based on true events, this historical drama takes place on December 12, 1979 when military commander Chun Doo-hwan staged a coup d’etat to seize power less than two months after long-time dictator Park Chung-hee’s assassination. The date is considered a pivotal one in modern Korean history, opening another era of dictatorship. The film was released in November 2023 and went on to become the year’s biggest title at the local box office, eventually taking $95.7m from 13.1 million admissions (25% of South Korea’s entire population). South Korea won the Oscar in 2020 with Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, which also picked up best picture, and has also made the shortlist twice – in 2018 for Lee Chang-dong’s Burning and last year with Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave. International sales: Plus M Entertainment
Taiwan: Old Fox (Hsiao Ya-Chuan)
This family drama is set in the late 1980s and follows an 11-year-old boy who befriends his landlord, nicknamed Old Fox, and learns from him how to survive in a rapidly changing world. The cast is led by child star Bai Run-Yin (Dear Tenant) and veteran actor Akio Chen as well as Liu Kuan-Ting (A Sun). Executive producer is Cannes award-winner Hou Hsiao-Hsien (The Assassin). The film premiered at Tokyo International Film Festival and went on to win four prizes at Taiwan’s coveted Golden Horse Awards including best director and best supporting actor for Chen. Taiwan last made the shortlist in 2020 with Chung Mong-Hong’s family drama A Sun. Prior to that, the previous shortlisted entry was Wei Te-sheng’s Warriors Of The Rainbow: Seediq Bale in 2012. The last to achieve a nomination was Ang Lee’s martial-arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which went on to win the award and three further Oscars in 2001. International sales: Eric Chou, Tomorrow Together Capital
Tajikistan: Melody (Behrouz Sebt Rasoul)
This is the second time Rasoul’s drama has been submitted after its 2023 attempt was declined for not meeting the deadline. The story follows the titular character, a music teacher at a centre for children with cancer, who travels back to her home village to capture a specific birdsong. Melody is produced through Sebt Rasoul’s Tehran-based Nama Film and state-owned Tajikistan broadcaster Safina. The country was also disqualified in 2005 for similar deadline issues while the only other time the Central Asia country has entered was in 1999 with Bakhtyar Khudojnazarov’s comedy-drama Luna Papa. International sales: Dreamlab Films
Thailand: How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Pat Boonnitipat)
Since being released in the spring, this family drama has become the highest-grossing feature of 2024 to date in Thailand and Singapore and the biggest Asian film of all time in Indonesia. It is also the biggest ever Thai film in Malaysia, the Philippines and Myanmar. Netflix acquired the film following this success. The story centres on a young man who quits work to care for his terminally ill grandmother, motivated by her fortune, but finds winning her favour is no easy feat. Marking the feature directorial debut of Boonnitipat and produced by Bangkok-based hitmakers GDH 559, it stars popular Thai singer Putthipong Assaratanakul (aka Billkin) and Usha Seamkhum. It marks the country’s 31st submission to the Oscars with no nominations to date. International sales: WME Independent
Vietnam: Peach Blossom, Pho And Piano (Phi Tien Son)
This romantic war drama centres on a couple who braved dangers to reunite on February 17, 1947, when the Vietnamese people’s army began to withdraw from Hanoi at the end of a 60-day battle. The cast is led by Doan Quoc Dam as a militiaman and Cao Thuy Linh. The state-funded film was commissioned by Vietnam’s Cinema Department and produced by Film No. 1 Joint Stock Company. It won the Silver Lotus award at the Vietnam Film Festival in November 2023. Vietnam has made the shortlist once, in 1993, with its first-ever submission, The Scent Of Green Papaya directed by Trần Anh Hùng. International sales: TBC
EUROPE
Albania: Waterdrop (Robert Budina)
In Albania’s 17th submission, a mother must confront her own complicity in a corrupt system when her 15-year-old son becomes embroiled in a rape scandal that could send him to prison. The film will have its world premiere in Warsaw next month. It is produced by Erafilm; Italy’s Redibis Film; Romania’s Avanpost; Kosovo’s Ilyria Film; and North Macedonia’s Manufaktura Productions. It is Budina’s second time representing Albania at the Oscars with the country yet to secure a nomination. International sales: TBC
Austria: The Devil’s Bath (Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz)
Read the full article here. International sales: Playtime
Belgium: Julie Keeps Quiet (Leonardo Van Dijl)
Read the full story here. International sales: New Europe Film Sales
Bulgaria: Triumph (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov)
Borat and The Apprentice star Maria Bakalova leads the cast of this black comedy inspired by a real group of psychics who helped Bulgarian army officers locate an alien artifact in the 1990s. The film makes its world premiere at Toronto Platform and completes the directing duo’s trilogy of films inspired by bizarre news stories from their homeland, following 2017’s Glory and 2020’s The Lesson – both of which also represented Bulgaria at the Oscars. Other cast include Julian Kostov and Julian Vergov. Bakalova also produces the feature alongside the directors’ Abraxas Film and Greece’s Graal Films. The country made the shortlist just once, in 2009 with The World Is Big And Salvation Lurks Around The Corner. International sales: Bankside
Croatia: Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day (Ivona Juka)
Set in the 1950s, the country’s 34th entry follows four young filmmakers in Yugoslavia who have their film censored for featuring scenes depicting dissatisfaction with the army. They are then offered the chance for “rehabilitation” by making propaganda films instead. The film’s working title was Strangers In the Night and received a €5,000 prize at Cologne’s European Work In Progress awards. It is produced by Ivona’s sister Anita Juka at 4Film with support from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the MEDIA sub-programme of Creative Europe, the Adris Foundation, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, the Ministry of Culture – Cyprus Film Department, and the Sarajevo and Tuzla Canton Film Funds. Yet to secure a nomination, Croatia’s first submission in 1991 was disqualified as the country was still in the process of receiving international recognition. International sales: TBC
Czech Republic: Waves (Jiří Mádl)
This historical thriller won the audience award at Karlovy Vary, where it had its world premiere, and is based on a true story set during the Prague Spring. It centres around a group of journalists who are determined to keep independent news running during the Soviet invasion. It is produced by Dawson Films and co-produced by Wandal Productions. Vojtech Vodochodský leads the cast alongside Táňa Pauhofová, Stanislav Majer, Ondřej Stupka, Martin Hofmann, Petr Lněnička, Marika Šoposká, Tomáš Maštalír, Igor Bareš, and Vojtěch Kotek. Kolija won the Oscar for the Czech Republic in 1996 while the country has been nominated a further two times and made it to the shortlist twice. International sales: Urban Sales
Denmark: The Girl With The Needle (Magnus von Horn)
Read the full article here. International sales: The Match Factory
Estonia: 8 Views Of Lake Biwa (Marko Raat)
Inspired by German writer Max Dauthendy’s 1911 book of the same name, 8 Views Of Lake Biwa centres on two girls by an Estonian lake, as their isolated fishing village attempts to come to terms with a recent disaster. Stalwart Estonian producers Ivo Felt and Dora Nedeczky of Allfilm produced the title with Mark Lwoff and Misha Jaari of Finland’s Bufo, with a world premiere in the Harbour strand at International Film Festival Rotterdam in January followed by a local release in March. Raat has been making features since 2002, with this his ninth effort and first time representing his country for the Oscars. The closest Estonia has come to Oscar glory from 21 previous entries was Zaza Urushadze’s Tangerines, nominated in 2015; while Tanel Toom’s Truth And Justice made the shortlist for the 2020 awards. International sales: TBC
Finland: Family Time (Tia Kouvo)
First premiering at Berlinale Encounters in 2023, this comedy-drama follows a tense Christmas gathering as three dysfunctional generations come together. Other festival outings include Sao Paulo, Brussels and Transilvania, winning the special jury award at the latter. It is produced by Aamu Film Company with Vilda Bomben Film. Finland made the shortlist last year with Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves with the director previously scoring the country’s only nomination in 2002 for The Man Without A Past. Other shortlisted films include Compartment No. 6 in 2021 and The Fencer in 2015. International sales: The Match Factory
France: Emilia Perez (Jacques Audiard)
Read the full article here. International sales: Netflix
Georgia: The Antique (Rusudan Glurjidze)
The Antique became embroiled in a drama before it had even played, when two minority co-producers on the film brought an Italian court decree that led to its suspension from Venice’s Giornate degli Autori independent sidebar. The film’s world premiere on August 28 was postponed; then it was reinstated one week later after negotiations between Giornate and the Italian court. The film follows a Georgian smuggler transporting antiques to St. Petersburg in Russia, where he meets an immigrant in an antique workshop. Georgia scored an Oscar nomination with its first-ever entry in the category - Nana Jorjadze’s A Chef In Love for the 1997 awards. Since then its best result was when Giorgi Ovashvili’s Corn Island made the shortlist for the 2015 ceremony; while Glurjidze also directed 2017 entry House Of Others. international sales: MPM Premium
Germany: The Seed Of The Sacred Fig (Mohammad Rasoulof)
Read the full article here. International sales: Films Boutique
Greece: Murderess (Eva Nathena)
A period drama about an ageing midwife who battles the patriarchy in a remote Greek village, based on the classic novella of the same name by Alexandros Papadiamantis. The directorial debut of leading art director and costume designer Eva Nathena, it won five prizes at Greece’s Iris Awards. Its selection was controversial after a dispute between the culture ministry and Hellenic Film Academy (Helfiac) saw 20 titles pull out of the submission process. International sales: Tanweer
Hungary: Semmelweis (Lajos Koltai)
Koltai represents his country for the second time, following 2005’s entry Fateless, and has previously been nominated in cinematography for 2000’s Malena. This period biopic centres around a famous Hungarian doctor who introduced antiseptic procedures at a Vienna maternity clinic. The film is the highest-grossing Hungarian film in the country for the past five years with more than 350,000 admissions. It is produced by Tamás Lajos, Szupermodern Filmstúdió and Joe Vida, and was supported by Hungary’s National Film Institute. Hungary has won the Oscar twice – in 1981 for Mephisto and in 2013 for Son Of Saul – and has scored a further eight nominations, the last in 2017 for Ildikó Enyedi’s On Body And Soul. International sales: NFI
Iceland: Touch (Baltasar Kormakur)
Icelandic stalwart Kormakur represents his country for a fifth time on the Oscar stage with Touch, a romantic drama following one man’s journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago. The film opened in Iceland in May, and has played festivals in Sydney, Munich and Haugesund. Kormakur’s most recent entry, The Deep, recorded Iceland’s joint-best performance in the last 32 years when making the shortlist for the 2013 awards. The country has one nomination from 44 total entries, for Fridrik Por Fridriksson’s Children Of Nature in 1992; with Fridriksson remarkably beating out Kormakur for entries, with six total submissions. Signs of success are coming, with two shortlisted entries in the last three ceremonies - Valdimar Johannsson’s Lamb in 2022, and Hlynur Palmason’s Godland last year. Focus Features boarded the film prior to production in late 2022. International sales: Focus Features
Ireland: Kneecap (Rich Peppiatt)
Read the full article here. International sales: Charades
Italy: Vermiglio (Maura Delpero)
Read the full article here. Worldwide sales: Charades
Latvia: Flow (Gints Zilbalodis)
This animated feature first premiered at Cannes Un Certain Regard before going on to screen at Annecy where it won four prizes including the Competition jury and audience award. The story centres around a cat who teams up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog after a flood destroys his home. Zilbalodis produced Flow alongside co-writer Matiss Kaza as well as Ron Dyens and Gregory Zalcman. The film, which Sideshow and Janus Films have North American rights on, is also screening at Toronto. It marks Latvia’s 16th submission with the country yet to score a nomination. International sales: Charades
Lithuania: Drowning Dry (Laurynas Bareisa)
The aftermath of a near-tragic accident at a family weekend getaway is explored in this drama, which won filmmaker Bareisa best director at Locarno Film Festival in August. Bareisa previously won Venice’s Orizzonti award for best film with his debut feature Pilgrims in 2021, which was also submitted to the Oscars. He also serves as cinematographer on Drowning Dry, which is a co-production between Lithuania’s Afterschool Productions and Latvia’s Trickster Pictures. Lithuania made its first Oscar entry for the 2007 awards but has yet to receive a nomination in the category. International sales: Alpha Violet
Montenegro: Supermarket (Nemanja Bečanović)
A homeless man who secretly lives in a supermarket begins to suspect he is not alone in this comedy drama which had its world premiere at Tallinn Black Nights 2023. Bečanović wrote the screenplay and produced the title through his outfit VHS Production. Montenegro has submitted 11 times with no nominations as of yet. International sales: TBC
Netherlands: Memory Lane (Jelle de Jonge)
Martin van Waardenberg and Leny Breederveld star as an elderly husband and wife, the latter suffering from dementia, who embark on a road trip to visit a dying friend. The film drew in more than 100,000 admissions when it premiered in Dutch cinemas. It is produced by Hazazah Pictures in coproduction with the EO, Umami Media and Belgium’s Menuetto Film. The country won the Oscar twice – in 1995 and 1997 with Antonia’s Lane and Character, respectively – and has been nominated four times. International sales: Incredible Film
Norway: Armand (Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel)
The debut feature from Norwegian writer-director Tønde premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard strand and stars The Worst Person In The World’s Renate Reinsve. It centres on a murky incident between two young boys at a primary school. International sales: Charades
Poland: Under The Volcano (Damian Kocur)
The Polish director follows up his debut Bread And Salt with a story surrounding a Ukrainian family on holiday in Tenerife who discover they cannot return home due to the Russian invasion. Following its premiere at Toronto, Under The Volcano will also screen in competition in London and at the Polish Film Festival. The film is produced by Mikołaj Lizut of Lizart Film and Agnieszka Jastrzębska of Hawk Art. Grzegorz Słoniewski of MGM SA, Michał Maksym of TVP SA and the Polish Film Institute co-produce. Poland won the Oscar once in 2014 with Paweł Pawlikowski’s Ida and has racked up 12 nominations, the last time in 2023 with Jerzy Skolimowski’s EO. International sales: Salaud Morisset
Portugal: The Grand Tour (Miguel Gomes)
Full article here. International sales: The Match Factory
Romania: Three Kilometers To The End Of The World (Emanuel Parvu)
Winner of this year’s Cannes Queer Palm, having premiered in Competition at the festival, the actor-turned-filmmaker’s latest drama surrounds a teenage boy whose life in a conservative Danube Delta community is turned upside when he is violently attacked for being gay. The film also took home best feature film at Sarajevo and best director at Jerusalem film festival. Three Kilometers is produced by Famart Association and stars Bogdan Dumitrache, Ciprian Chiujdea, Laura Vasiliu, and Valeriu Andriuta. This marks Romania’s 40th submission to the Oscars. The country picked up a nomination in 2020 for Alexander Nanau’s Collective and made the shortlist in 2012 for Beyond The Hills. International sales: Goodfellas
Serbia: Russian Consul (Miroslav Lekić)
Lekic’s second submission for Serbia, following 2002’s Labyrinth, is set in 1973 and centres around the growing conflict between the Kosovo Serbs and the Albanians. The film stars Žarko Laušević in his last role before passing away. It is produced by Visionteam and Telekom Srbij with support from Film Centre Serbia. The country has yet to land a nomination but did make the shortlist in 2007 with The Trap. International sales: TBC
Slovakia: The Hungarian Dressmaker (Iveta Grofova)
Marika, a Hungarian widow dressmaker shelters a Jewish boy in her home on the Slovak-Hungarian border during the turbulent years of the Second World War and Slovak state’s partnership with the Third Reich. This Karlovy Vary premiere is a fourth feature for Slovak director Grofova, and second time she has represented her country for the Oscars after Made In Ash for the 2013 ceremony. Despite having entered almost every year since its independence from Czechslovakia in 1993, Slovakia has yet to receive a nomination from 27 submissions. International sales: Reason8 Films
Slovenia: Family Therapy (Sonja Prosenc)
Marking Prosenc’s third submission for Slovenia, this comedic satire surrounds a seemingly perfect family whose flaws and dynamics are exposed by the arrival of a young stranger. The film had its world premiere at Tribeca in the international narrative competition and went on to screen at Sarajevo where it won the arthouse cinema award. Family Therapy is produced by Monoo and stars Mila Bezjak, Aliocha Schneider, Marko Mandić and Katarina Stegnar. Having submitted nearly 30 tines, Slovenia has yet to land a nomination. International sales: Monoo
Spain: Saturn Return (Isaki Lacuesta and Pol Rodríguez)
Read the full article here. International sales: Latido Films
Sweden: The Last Journey (Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson)
A documentary about the renowned Swedish TV duo, who take a trip to France in an effort to rekindle Filip’s father’s zest for life. It was released through Nordisk Film in March, going on to become the most watched documentary of all time in Swedish cinemas. Sweden has had four winners in the category - most recently with Bille August’s Pelle The Conqueror in 1988. International sales: TBC
Switzerland: Reinas (Klaudia Reynicke)
This Spanish-language drama is set in Peru in 1992 and follows a family living through seismic change in their lives alongside the political upheaval and economic crisis. It first premiered in Sundance before going on to screen at Berlinale where it won the jury prize in Generation Kplus and Locarno where it picked up the audience award. Written by Reynicke with Diego Vega, Reinas is produced by Switzerland’s Alva Film; Peru’s Maretazo Cine and Spain’s Inicia Films. The cast includes Abril Gjurinovic, Luana Vega, Gonzalo Molina, Jimena Lindo and Susi Sánchez. Switzerland has won the Oscar twice - in 1984 for Dangerous Moves and in 1990 for Journey Of Hope - and has scored three nominations. World sales: The Yellow Affair
UK: Santosh (Sandhya Suri)
Read the full article here. International sales: mk2
Ukraine: La Palisiada (Philip Sotnychenko)
Sotnychenko’s debut feature is set in 1996, five months before the suspension of the death penalty, and follows two friends investigating the murder of their colleague. The film first premiered at Rotterdam in 2023 where it won the Fipresci prize. It was also nominated in the European Discovery section at the European Film Awards. La Palisiada is produced by Halyna Kryvorchuk, Sashko Chubko and Valeria Sochyvets with support from the Ukrainian cultural fund and production support from the Ukrainian film fund. Sweden’s Goteborg film fund provided post-production support. Cast includes Andrii Zhurba, Novruz Hikmet, Valeria Oleinikova and Oleksandr Parkhomenko. Ukraine made the shortlist last year with 20 Days In Mariupol which went on to win best documentary. International sales: Reason8
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
Algeria: Algiers (Chakib Taleb-Bendiab)
This psychological thriller centres on the kidnapping of a girl, which sparks tension and suspicion in Algiers. It follows a psychiatrist and police inspector as they attempt to solve the mystery while unearthing the demons of the city’s past. The film marks the feature debut of Taleb-Bendiab and screened at Rhode Island International Film Festival in the US, where it won best film. Algeria won the Oscar in 1970 with its first ever submission, Costa Gavras’ Z, and has since secured four nominations. International sales: Mad World
Egypt: Flight 404 (Hani Khalifa)
A box office hit in its own country, Mona Zaki stars as a woman who runs into trouble days before she’s meant to embark on a Muslim pilgrimage. She must come up with a large sum of money and confront her demons along the way. It is produced by Hefzy and Shahinaz Al-Akkad through their production companies Film Clinic and Lagoonie Film Production, in co-production with Saudi Arabia’s Pictures Entertainment Group and Hi Media Production. Egypt has submitted nearly 40 times and has yet to secure a nomination. International sales: TBC
Iraq: Baghdad Messi (Sahim Omar Kalifa)
The country’s 13th entry follows a young boy who is determined not to give up on his dream of playing football after losing his leg in a terrorist attack. The film is adapted from Kalifa’s short of the same name which was shortlisted for an Oscar in 2014. Belgium producer Kobe Van Steenberghe penned the screenplay once again and produced the title through his outfit A Team Productions. Other producers are Brussels-based company 10.80 Film, Germany’s Motisfilm and Dutch outfit Column Film. International sales: Goodfellas
Iran: In The Arms Of The Tree (Babak Khajeh Pasha)
This family drama centres on a married couple of 12 years who experience a crisis, impacting the previously idyllic world of their children. The cast is led by Maral Baniadam, Javad Ghamati and Rouhollah Zamani. It premiered at Iran’s Fajr Film Festival in February 2023, winning best screenplay and an honourable mention for best first film director. It also screened at Shanghai International Film Festival. The country has previously won two Oscars, for A Separation in 2011 and The Salesman in 2016, both directed by Asghar Farhadi. It has also secured a further nomination – in 1999 for Majid Majidi’s Children Of Heaven – and made the shortlist twice with Majidi’s Sun Children in 2021 and Farhadi’s A Hero in 2022. International sales: TBC
Israel: Come Closer (Tom Nesher)
The director’s debut feature surrounds a young woman who takes desperate measures to deal with the grief of losing her brother, including becoming infatuated with his secret girlfriend. Come Closer had its world premiere at Tribeca where it picked up the Viewpoints award and went on to play Jerusalem, winning best Israeli feature and best actress for Lia Elalouf. It is produced by 2-Team Productions and the Rogovin Brothers. Israel has been nominated for 10 Oscars in international feature, the last in 2011 with Footnote. International sales: Fandango
Jordan: My Sweet Land (Sareen Hairabedian)
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is told through the eyes of an 11-year-old who dreams of becoming a dentist in this debut feature documentary. It had its premiere at Sheffield DocFest and won several awards at Amman festival including the audience and jury prize. My Sweet Land is produced by Azza Hourani under the banner of HAI Creative in co-production with Sister Productions and Soilsíu Films, and in association with ARTE France and World of HA Productions. Jordan was nominated in 2015 with Theeb. International sales: TBC
Kenya: Nawi (Vallentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine, Kevin Schmutzler, Toby Schmutzler)
The six-strong Kenyan Oscar committee has selected drama Nawi, which released in its home territory at the end of August 2024. Based on the winning story of a nationwide writing contest and using a mixture of Swahili and English dialogue, Nawi follows a young girl growing up in rural Kenya navigates the conflict between tradition and the right to choose her future. It is Kenya’s ninth Oscar entry, with no nominations to date. International sales: TBC
Morocco: Everybody Loves Touda (Nabil Ayouch)
French-Moroccan filmmaker Ayouch is representing his country at the Oscars for the sixth time with this musically-driven drama, which premiered at Cannes. The story centres on a poet and singer raising her deaf-mute son in a small village, who dreams of being a sheikha (a traditional Moroccan performer) in Casablanca. Ayouch co-wrote the script with his wife and actress-filmmaker Maryam Touzani, whose The Blue Caftan, produced by Ayouch, made the international feature Oscars shortlist for Morocco in 2023. Of the 19 films submitted by the country since 1977, none have received a nomination but have made it to the shortlist three times: Roschdy Zem’s Omar Killed Me in 2012; The Blue Caftan in 2023; and Asmae El Moudir’s The Mother Of All Lies in 2024. International sales: mk2 Films
Palestine: From Ground Zero (Masharawi Fund)
The inaugural project from Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi’s Gaza film fund is a compilation of 22 short films capturing the situation in Gaza amid the ongoing war with Israel. The films encompass documentary, drama, animation and experimental with the project having its North American premiere at Toronto’s Lightbox strand. France’s Coorigines Productions produced From Ground Zero alongside the Masharawi Fund in co-production with Turkey’s Metafora Productions, Jordan’s Royal Film Commission and UAE’s Sharjah Art Foundation. Palestine has been nominated twice before, in 2005 for Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now and in 2013 with Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar. International sales: Coorigines
Senegal: Dahomey (Mati Diop)
Read the full story here. International sales: Les Films du Losange
Turkey: Life (Zeki Demirkubuz)
The Turkish filmmaker’s latest drama centres around a woman who runs away when she is forced to marry a man she hardly knows and the fiance who travels to Istanbul reluctantly to find her. Awarded best film at the Mediterrane festival, Life also screened in Rotterdam and was nominated for nine awards at the Turkish Film Critics Association, winning in best supporting actor for Cem Davran. Turkey has submitted to the Oscars over 30 times and was shortlisted in 2008 for Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Three Monkeys. International sales: Basak Emre Pundur
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