This disreputable category seems to be beyond salvation despite the best efforts of Mark Johnson to save it. (The Departures finally opened, and in its fourth week it has grossed a whopping $325,000 so far - about 40,000 paid admissions).

Anyway, we have our first national selection, although most countries wait until close to the deadline for eligibility (opening by Sept.30) or just after before choosing:

Hungary sends 'Chameleon' to Oscars
Film won audience prize at Hungarian Film Week
By JOHN NADLERBUDAPEST — "Chameleon," the third feature by helmer Kisztina Goda, has been selected as Hungary's entry in foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards.
The Hungarian selection committee has high hopes for "Chameleon," based on the movie's strong showing at the Hungarian Film Week in February, and its popularity with local audiences.

The story of a con-man who is able to take on numerous personalities, "Chameleon" won the audience prize at the Film Week, and enjoyed a long run in Hungarian cinemas after its premiere.

Goda, who graduated from UCLA, burst onto the scene in 2005 with the film "Just Sex and Nothing Else." Her talents came to the attention of Hungarian-born Hollywood producer Andy Vajna, who produced her 2006 feature "Szabadsag, Szerelem" (Children of Glory), which was set around the 1956 Hungarian uprising.

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Thanks for the information and let's organize the list, seanflynn:

Albania: "Alive"
Algeria:London River
Argentina: "El Secreto De Sus Ojos"
Armenia: "A Magician's Autumn"
Australia: "Samson & Delilah"
Austria: "For a Moment, Freedom"
Bangladesh: "Beyond the Circle"
Belgium: "The Misfortunates"
Bolivia: "Zona Sur" ("Southern Zone")
Bosnia/Herzegovina: "Guardians of the Night"
Brazil: "Salve Geral"
Bulgaria: "The World Is Big & Salvation Lurks Around the Corner"
Chile: "Dawson, Isla 10"
China: Forever Enthralled
Colombia: The Wind Journeys
Croatia: "Donkey"
Cuba:Fallen Gods
Czech Republic: "Protector"
Denmark: "Terribly Happy"
Estonia: "December Heat"
Finland: "Letters to Father Jacob"
France: "A Prophet"
Georgia: The Other Bank
Germany: "White Ribbon"
Greece: Slaves in Their Bonds
Hong Kong: "Prince of Tears"
Hungary: "Chameleon"
Iceland: Reykjavik-Rotterdam
India - Harishchandrachi Factory
Indonesia: "Jamila & the President"
Iran - About Elly
Israel: Ajmi
Italy: "Baaria"
Japan: "Dare Mo Mamotte Kurenai" (director: Ryoichi Kimizuki)
Kazakhstan: "Kelin"
Korea: "Mother"
Lithuania: "Waterhole"
Luxembourg: "Réfractaire"
Mexico: "Backyard"
Mongolia: "By the Will of Genghis Khan"
Netherlands: Winter in Wartime
Norway: "Max Manus"
Peru: The Milk of Sorrow
Philippines: Ded na si Lolo (Grandapa is Dead)
Poland: "Reverse"
Puerto Rico: Kabo and Platon
Portugal: "Doomed Love"
Romania: "Police Adjective"
Russia: Ward No. 6
Serbia: "St. George Shoots the Dragon" (changed from previous entry "Here & There")
Slovakia: "Broken Promise"
Slovenia: Pokrajina Št. 2
Sri Lanka: The Road From Elephant Pass
South Africa: "White Wedding"
Spain: "The Dancer & the Thief"
Sweden: "Involuntary"
Switzerland: "Home"
Taiwan: "No puedo vivir sin ti"
Turkey: "I Saw the Sun"
United Kingdom: Afghan Star
Uruguay: "Bad Day to Go Fishing"
Venezuela: "Libertador Morales, El Justiciero"
Vietnam: "Don't Burn"

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"Mother" to represent Korea for Oscars
Thriller beats out vampire flick and farmer documentary
by Park Soo-mee

SEOUL -- "Mother," the latest feature from Bong Joon-ho, has been selected to represent Korea for the best foreign-language film in the next year's Oscar.

The strength of the story's narrative, its potential for a wide release in the U.S. and the director's reputation were considered as priorities for the final contender, the Korean Film Council said.

Six films were submitted to compete for the Korean finalist including Yu Ha's "Frozen Flower," Park Chan-wook's "Thirst," and Lee Chung-ryul's "Old Partner," and were reviewed by a jury that included director Lee Myung-se ("Nowhere to Hide").

"Mother" was released domestically in May, and garnered more than 3 million admissions, falling below the score of the director's previous films like "The Host," which set the record as the biggest boxoffice hit in Korean film history, with 13 million filmgoers.

The story, set in a rural village, traces the battle of an anxious mother (Kim Hye-ja) out to prove the innocence of her mentally challenged son (Won Bin) who is accused of murdering a high school girl. The film premiered at Cannes in May.

"One of the most critical considerations (for the selection) was to see whether the film had reflected on sentiment particular in Korea," said in a jury statement. "We also had to consider if the film was compelling enough to appeal to juries who didn't know anything about the country or whether the film's distribution had the ability to be marketed abroad."

In the statement, the juries also added that "Thirst," despite the film's strong plot and solid distribution network, was unfit for Oscar's popular tastes. "Old Partner," a documentary about a farmer and his cow, was considered "too local" in its appeal.

"While 'Mother' had a flaw in its ambiguous construction packaged as a mystery thriller, it was agreed that the story of a mother had a genuine appeal and that the director's previous work "Memories of Murder" was well-regarded in the United States," the release said.

The nominations for foreign-language film will be announced on Feb. 2, with the ceremony set for March 7.

I know these countries haven't submitted yet, but these are my predictions for the Foreign Language race currently:

Best Foreign Language Film

A Prophet (France)
I Killed My Mother (Canada)
Rudo y Cursi (Mexico)
Samson & Delilah (Australia)
The White Ribbon (Austria)

quote:

Originally posted by bocaboy7:
I know these countries haven't submitted yet, but these are my predictions for the Foreign Language race currently:

Best Foreign Language Film

A Prophet (France)
I Killed My Mother (Canada)
Rudo y Cursi (Mexico)
Samson & Delilah (Australia)
The White Ribbon (Austria)

"Rudo y Cursi" got decent reviews in the U.S. and actually got some play in cities with large Hispanic populations, I got to see it in the theatre, but Mexico will probably find a more acclaimed film to submit. If they submitted "Rudo" I doubt it would make the line-up.

Germany's Eine Frau In Berlin/ A Woman In Berlin is worthy of note
more so for the blistering work of Nina Hoss in the lead role. A nomination
for her would be deserving. The movie itself merits recognition but not a
win for best foreign film. In it's own right, it works and is compeling.
However it tended to " romanticize " a brutal subject and slightly minimalized
the book. None the less, would be a strong submission.

GO GO HUNGARY!

I'd expect The White Ribbon to be Austria's submission. Japan might be between the two Koreeda's set to release this year in the USA, the new Sono or All Around Us (Gururi no Koto), or something set to release there this year.

Samson & Delilah is mainly in English so even if it is chosen it'll probably be disqualified, like I believe the last Australian submission, The Home Song Stories (which was equal parts in Mandarin and English), was.

I hope Germany chooses the new Maren Ade film. She deserves an international spotlight.

quote:

Originally posted by BERLIN 2002:
Germany's Eine Frau In Berlin/ A Woman In Berlin is worthy of note
more so for the blistering work of Nina Hoss in the lead role. A nomination
for her would be deserving. The movie itself merits recognition but not a
win for best foreign film. In it's own right, it works and is compeling.
However it tended to " romanticize " a brutal subject and slightly minimalized
the book. None the less, would be a strong submission.

A Woman in Berlin was the movie we got to see as patrons of the Toronto Film Festival and we had a chance to chat with the director which was fun.

I agree with you about the film - good, not great. Love Nina Hoss. Did you see her in The White Masai? That was a superb performance.

Since when does being submitted for a foreign language Oscar gain someone recognition?

Not the way this award has been run. Even something that is nominated doesn't necessarily get noticed.

I think German film has contained some of the best roles for lead actresses this decade - Downfall (Harfouch/Kohler), Four Minutes (Bleibtreu/Herzsprung), Yella (Hoss), Requiem (Huller), Sophie Scholl (Jentsch), Cherry Blossoms (Elsner/Irizuki), The Forest for the Trees (Lobau), No Place to Go (Elsner), Mein letzter Film (Elsner), Goodbye Lenin! (Sasshe), Cloud 9 (Werner), Head-On (Kekilli), The Baader-Meinhof Complex (Wokalek), The Lives of Others (Gedeck), Mostly Martha (Gedeck), The Princess and the Warrior (Potente), Nowhere in Africa (Kohler) etc etc etc etc

quote:

Originally posted by bocaboy7:
I know these countries haven't submitted yet, but these are my predictions for the Foreign Language race currently:

Best Foreign Language Film

A Prophet (France)
I Killed My Mother (Canada)
Rudo y Cursi (Mexico)
Samson & Delilah (Australia)
The White Ribbon (Austria)

All you predicitons are bassed on Cannes,but as we could see from Korea example,getting prize in Cannes doesn't give you an automatical ticket to represent your country...Anyway,about two weeks ago were announced nominations for Awards of the Israeli Film Academy,while the picture,which wins is sent to Oscars,here is the list:
Sippur Gadol (A Matter of Size,literally - "A Big story") - The picture is leading with 13 nominations (They have tehir nominations in all the categories).The film won Audience Award at Karlovy Vary....I watched this film and I think that it's nice and funny (it is comedy),but not more then it...By the way in 2011 there will be a remake of this film in USA.
Ajami (it is a name of a region in one of Israel cities) - Won Special Mention in Gold Camera category at Cannes...The film has 9 nominations (the 4 "missing" nomninations are for acting...There are two reason,there is no leading actor and also all the actors were non-professional)...The film also won Jerusalem Film Fest.I really didn't like the movie,but never mind.
Lebanon - The film would participate in Venice Film Festival in main category...If it wins,it would be the third film in row about 1st Lebanon war,but it was filmed at the same time as "Vals im Bashir".Nominated in 10 categories.The film will be also screened at Toronto Film Fest.
It is the mane candidates,but there are also two others:
Habodedim (The loners) - Nominated in 11 categories.
Haiu Leilot (Those were nights) - Nominated in 8 categories.
And if we started with the predictions,I think that Russia would choose Bumazhnyy Soldat (The paper soldier),which one Best Director and Best Cinematography at Venice Film Fest last year.

The only way this category ever gets reformed is if countries refuse to submit, which they should, led France and Italy.

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seanflynn, sure this category is outdated but I believe it should stay simply because, without it, there'd be no hope of foreign pictures making an impact at all in other races (except for the odd screenplay or directing nomination for a director/writer well-known in the West).

It's either put up with an outdated and prejudiced ball & chain on the Oscars' foot, or put up with having no foreign representation at the awards whatsoever.

Spartak - as far as the Russian Federation goes, It'd bode you well to look at some of the Moscow Festival winners, most of which (this year) are Russian films - Pete on the Way to Heaven, Chudo, Melody for the Barrel Organ etc.

The category is now having a negative impact.

The general public holds it against a foreign language film that does not get a nomination, even if it had no chance. Then they might stumble into most of the ones that are, and say WTF? is this the best that there is?

There should be a foreign language film category, but no category would be better than the present horrible set-up.

And one of the few good things about 10 best picture nominees is that one or two FL ones might get in. Without the FL category, I'd bet more would.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,

quote:

Spartak - as far as the Russian Federation goes, It'd bode you well to look at some of the Moscow Festival winners, most of which (this year) are Russian films - Pete on the Way to Heaven, Chudo, Melody for the Barrel Organ etc.

I wrote it,because I have seen it and not becauce of the Venice...But basically you are right...I think that Paper Soldier has exellent cinematography and director,but I can't see that it has any chance at Oscars'...

Germany's chosen "The White Ribbon" as its submission.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"White Ribbon" to vie for an Oscar
Palme d'Or winner opens in the U.S. in February
by Scott Roxborough

BERLIN -- Michael Haneke's Cannes Palme d'Or winner "The White Ribbon" will be Germany's official candidate for the 2010 foreign-language film Oscar.

A small-town tale of morality, depravity, and the rise of fascism set on the eve of World War I and shot in stark black and white, "The White Ribbon" marks Haneke's return to his native German after a decade of success in French.

If nominated, it will be a first for the Austrian director, who enjoys auteur star status in Europe but has yet to break through in the U.S. Sony Classics is releasing "The White Ribbon" stateside, with a February bow planned, following the obligatory pre-Christmas Oscar qualification run.

A nomination would also be a first for German producer X Filme Creative Pool, which despite being the driving force behind films such as "Run, Lola, Run" (1998) and "Goodbye, Lenin!" (2003), has yet to receive an Oscar nom for one of its in-house titles.

"The White Ribbon" was set up as a four-territory co-production together with France's Films du Losange, Austria's Wega Film and Lucky Red of Italy. This pan-European approach is typical for Haneke but it has proved a liability in past Oscar campaigns.

The director's well-received Cannes Jury Prize winner "Cache" (2005) was rejected by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences because the film, submitted by Austria, was in French not German. The Academy has since changed its rules to accommodate more polyglot productions.

The Academy will announce the best foreign-language film nominees on Feb. 2. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be held March 7.

The shock of course is that this is being submitted by Germany, not Austria.

Either country may be plausible (a few years ago it might not have been eligible since its creative team is split between the two).

Director - Austrian
Writer - Austrian
Producers - 2 Austrian, 1 German, 1 French, 1 Italian
Actors - Mainly German
Cinematographer - Austrian
Location - Germany
Production companies - Austrian, German, French, Italian

If as used to be, a film could only be from a single country, and have the predominance of creative people from that country, the Academy would have only considered it Austrian.

I wonder what the back story is - maybe Austria will submit it as well. It actually doesn't make sense for Germany to be the one submitting, since with a much larger film industry, it precludes them from sending another film, while Austria has of course far fewer. But perhaps Austria has something else it preferred to submit.

If it so,it can be recjected,as 2 years ago Se,Jie by Ang lee...

My guess is that it will qualify, although another distributor might lodge a protest.

Sony Classics has this in the states; they actually have been the challengers in some previous cases.

The fallback would be for Austria to submit it (either at the same time, or wait for a ruling). I'm sure though there has never been a film submitted by two countries.

They had for a period of time (since scrapped) a formula that was something like

director counts 25%
writer counts 25%
actors count 25%
producers count 25%

(That's a rough guess - it probably wasn't precisely that. They also required the film be predominantly - quite a bit more than a majority - from one country).

Under that formula, this would be about 58% Austrian, 30% German, 6% French, 6% Italian, and ineligible from any country.

Sergei Bodrov's Mongol was a nominee from Kazhakstan even though its creative input was a majority Russian, so there is a precedent.

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