I'm curious as to who it is decided what films are allowed to compete for Foregin Film and which are too be considered for the main prizes? Why is it that British films are allowed to compete for major acting and best picture prizes but films from other countries have to compete for foregin film. And what about Canadian films? do they compete in the main categories or in Foregin film?
is it about who produces or distrubtes the film or is it more involved than that? i've always been confused about that.
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20035 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
French language Canadian films have competed in the foreign language film category. The French language Canadian film "The Barbarian Invasion" won the foreign language film Oscar.
Also, even foreign language films released in L.A. in a given year can compete for the major Oscars and sometimes do (think "Il Postino", "Z", "Pan's Labyrinth", "Life is Beautiful", etc.) it is just that they are usually too little seen to get enough traction for the major prizes.
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Posts: 27141 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: February 02, 2003
There could be exceptions, but it's foreign "Language" films; so if they're not speaking English it qualifies as FLF, although of course there have been cross-overs with Oscar. Speaking of Canadian films, besides being Canadian, it was Claude Jutra's Mon Oncle Atoine, which hooked me on 'foreign' films, which of course, wasnt so foreign to me. Anyways, exceptions aside, that's the rule of thumb for me.
Posts: 13901 | Location: canada | Registered: December 22, 2005
So any film that is filmed entirely in a language other than english is considered for FLF? that's why British films compete for major awards. that makes sense. thanks.
So a english canadian film would be eligable for major prizes if it was released in the USA and got enough exposure to qualify?
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20035 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
Only if it's in our other National language, which of course is french. There have been plenty of films in Oscar contentiion with strong Canadian connections spoken in english.
Posts: 13901 | Location: canada | Registered: December 22, 2005
Any film in any language of any length that plays in an LA County theatre and is advertised in local papers for seven consecutive days beginning no later than Dec 31 is eligible for that year. The only exceptions are films broadcast on TV or cable concurrently or before their theatrical release. Then all is needed is filling out documents and sending them in.
(Even a 10 minute short is eligible if it wants to try, although the theatrical release + advertising makes this mainly a waste of time and effort).
There is no best foreign film category. There is a best foreign language film category. All countries except for the US are allowed, through an organization recognized by the Academy in each country, to submit one film that opened in its native country between October-September of the previous year. Puerto Rico (for Academy purposes, considered a country), Bhutan and Luxembourg get to send the same number of films - one - that France, China and Italy do.\
Then a group of self-appointed Academy members (mainly older ones, all living in LA, with a lot of time on their hands) screen them in groups and give rankings to those they see. From these rankings, 6 films make a semi-final group, along with 3 additional films selected by another small group from among those not chosen by the other members. Then 30 members, 20 of whom are not in the initial group, screen the 9 films to choose the final 5.
Then only Academy members who attend screenings of the 5 films vote.
A film need not open in the US already (or for that matter ever) to be eligible. This year's winner, Departures, will not open int eh US until next month.
It is a horrible, miserable, antiquated system. It diminishes, rather than celebrates, foreign language films.
Countries in which English is the majority language - Britain, Australia among them -have on occassion submitted entries.
I'm sorry boidiva, I misread your post. Yes; a film from any country can be nominated at Oscar. Just not, foreign language if it's....english-speaking. Things can get somewhat blurred when it comes to english speaking films, esp from Canada and Great Britain, since our ties are so interconnected. I think, many films are becoming more international anyways, with filming done globally, with international monies, directors, actors, writers, etc.
Posts: 13901 | Location: canada | Registered: December 22, 2005
The rules were changed so that a film need not be in a normal language of its country, as long as it is mainly not in English. A Swedish film in which the characters speak mainly Estonian now would be OK, although it past years it would not have been. A Canadian film in Spanish would be the same.
Another awful rule is that if a film is a multi-country production - let's say Motorcyle Diaries, which had creative people and financing from multiple countries - is not eligible.
Originally posted by seanflynn: Any film in any language of any length that plays in an LA County theatre and is advertised in local papers for seven consecutive days beginning no later than Dec 31 is eligible for that year. The only exceptions are films broadcast on TV or cable concurrently or before their theatrical release. Then all is needed is filling out documents and sending them in.
(Even a 10 minute short is eligible if it wants to try, although the theatrical release + advertising makes this mainly a waste of time and effort).
There is no best foreign film category. There is a best foreign language film category. All countries except for the US are allowed, through an organization recognized by the Academy in each country, to submit one film that opened in its native country between October-September of the previous year. Puerto Rico (for Academy purposes, considered a country), Bhutan and Luxembourg get to send the same number of films - one - that France, China and Italy do.\
Then a group of self-appointed Academy members (mainly older ones, all living in LA, with a lot of time on their hands) screen them in groups and give rankings to those they see. From these rankings, 6 films make a semi-final group, along with 3 additional films selected by another small group from among those not chosen by the other members. Then 30 members, 20 of whom are not in the initial group, screen the 9 films to choose the final 5.
Then only Academy members who attend screenings of the 5 films vote.
A film need not open in the US already (or for that matter ever) to be eligible. This year's winner, Departures, will not open int eh US until next month.
It is a horrible, miserable, antiquated system. It diminishes, rather than celebrates, foreign language films.
Countries in which English is the majority language - Britain, Australia among them -have on occassion submitted entries.
Wow, thanks for that detailed explination. That definetly answers my questions and then some.
I had always wondered why British films were allowed to compete for Best Picture or Best Actress but say French or Spanish films aren't.
Now here's one last question: how is it that a film like Volver which to my knowlege is all in Spanish is able to compete for major awards instead of Foregin Language Film? maybe i'm missing something here.
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20035 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
Originally posted by seanflynn: The rules were changed so that a film need not be in a normal language of its country, as long as it is mainly not in English. A Swedish film in which the characters speak mainly Estonian now would be OK, although it past years it would not have been. A Canadian film in Spanish would be the same.
Another awful rule is that if a film is a multi-country production - let's say Motorcyle Diaries, which had creative people and financing from multiple countries - is not eligible.
And that last rule is ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. For example, one of my favorite films of all time, Dersu Uzala, won an Oscar for FLF, but is definitely a Japanese/French/Russian collaboration. With this 'rule', it would not qualify today. Gach.
Posts: 13901 | Location: canada | Registered: December 22, 2005
Another awful rule is that if a film is a multi-country production - let's say Motorcyle Diaries, which had creative people and financing from multiple countries - is not eligible.
Then how did Slumdog Millionaire get nominated for many awards? does it just mean as long as the majority of money comes from America that it's ok to compete?
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20035 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
Originally posted by seanflynn: Any film in any language of any length that plays in an LA County theatre and is advertised in local papers for seven consecutive days beginning no later than Dec 31 is eligible for that year. The only exceptions are films broadcast on TV or cable concurrently or before their theatrical release. Then all is needed is filling out documents and sending them in.
(Even a 10 minute short is eligible if it wants to try, although the theatrical release + advertising makes this mainly a waste of time and effort).
There is no best foreign film category. There is a best foreign language film category. All countries except for the US are allowed, through an organization recognized by the Academy in each country, to submit one film that opened in its native country between October-September of the previous year. Puerto Rico (for Academy purposes, considered a country), Bhutan and Luxembourg get to send the same number of films - one - that France, China and Italy do.\
Then a group of self-appointed Academy members (mainly older ones, all living in LA, with a lot of time on their hands) screen them in groups and give rankings to those they see. From these rankings, 6 films make a semi-final group, along with 3 additional films selected by another small group from among those not chosen by the other members. Then 30 members, 20 of whom are not in the initial group, screen the 9 films to choose the final 5.
Then only Academy members who attend screenings of the 5 films vote.
A film need not open in the US already (or for that matter ever) to be eligible. This year's winner, Departures, will not open int eh US until next month.
It is a horrible, miserable, antiquated system. It diminishes, rather than celebrates, foreign language films.
Countries in which English is the majority language - Britain, Australia among them -have on occassion submitted entries.
Wow, thanks for that detailed explination. That definetly answers my questions and then some.
I had always wondered why British films were allowed to compete for Best Picture or Best Actress but say French or Spanish films aren't.
Now here's one last question: how is it that a film like Volver which to my knowlege is all in Spanish is able to compete for major awards instead of Foregin Language Film? maybe i'm missing something here.
Foreign language films can cross over into the main categories at Oscar. And, it happens quite often. I think, this is a great thing.
Posts: 13901 | Location: canada | Registered: December 22, 2005
I had always wondered why British films were allowed to compete for Best Picture or Best Actress but say French or Spanish films aren't.
Now here's one last question: how is it that a film like Volver which to my knowlege is all in Spanish is able to compete for major awards instead of Foregin Language Film? maybe i'm missing something here.
Foreign language films, if they open in LA during the year, most definitely are eligible for the regular awards. Several foreign language films have been nominated for best picture, and quite a few have won in other categories (best director is the other big one where it hasn't happened).
Volver was submitted by Spain as it foreign language contender. It did not make the final five because the committee chose to select other films.
Another awful rule is that if a film is a multi-country production - let's say Motorcyle Diaries, which had creative people and financing from multiple countries - is not eligible.
Then how did Slumdog Millionaire get nominated for many awards? does it just mean as long as the majority of money comes from America that it's ok to compete?
Boidiva:
English speaking: not considered 'foreign' language. Cant compete in FLF categories, as a rule. The country of origin, those borders are blurring. It's a global community and all english-speaking and non-english speaking films are eligible; if it's from Estonia but the characters are speaking English, it qualifies. But, they could be speaking Georgian and it can still compete at Oscar in any category.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: babypook,
Posts: 13901 | Location: canada | Registered: December 22, 2005
No, an Estonian film in English would not qualify. It has to be in a language other than English.
The wonderful Israeli film The Band's Visit - which was in Hebrew, Arabic but frequently in English, because that was the language the Egyptian band and the Israeli locals spoke when together - was ruled ineligible because it had too much English in it.
Yes; I wasnt clear. What I meant to do was comment on a parallel to Slumdog Millionaire. Meaning, if the film from Estonia was spoken in English, no it would not be eligible for FLF, but it would be elible for Oscar, even if it were in Estonian.
Estonian film spoken in Russian: eligible for both FLF AND other categories at Oscar. Estonian film spoken in English: not eligible for FLF but can compete in other categories.
Ok?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: babypook,
Posts: 13901 | Location: canada | Registered: December 22, 2005
The five nominees should be selected from 5 films that opened in LA during the year. Possibly the Academy should set up a special committee of experts (like they do for documentaries) to pick the 5, and if they want to require people to swear that they have seen all 5, fine. But the current system does incredible damage to foreign language films in the US, rather than serving as something that enhances interest.
Voted into the shortlist by the Academy committee.
Chosen as a nominee by the Academy committee.
"Notorious was nice, but it’s not in the color purple range" "Angels and Demons may get nominated for cinematography the imagery was profound" "District Nine will definitely win for best foreign film it made money and everyone loved it" ~ 8movies
Posts: 2714 | Location: nz | Registered: January 12, 2009
