News

Expanded shortlist of 10 films to be announced on December 16.

The Academy on Monday (7) confirmed that 93 countries have submitted films for consideration in the international feature film category for the 92nd Academy Awards.

Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants with Kwabena Gyansah’s Azali, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, and Umid Khamdamov’s Hot Bread, respectively.

Earlier this year, the Academy board voted to rename the category formerly known as foreign language film, and expand the shortlist from nine to 10 films.

The shortlist will be announced on December 16. Nominations for the 92nd Oscars will be unveiled on January 13, 2020, and the Oscars...

The 2020 foreign-language Oscar nominees will come from submissions from 93 countries, up from last year’s 87, and breaking the record 92 from 2017. A contender for the renamed Best International Feature must be a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.

Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.

Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.

The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;

Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;

Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;

Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;

Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;

Austria, “Joy,...

The 2020 foreign-language Oscar nominees will come from submissions from 93 countries, up from last year’s 87, and breaking the record 92 from 2017. A contender for the renamed Best International Feature must be a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.

Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.

Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.

The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;

Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;

Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;

Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;

Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;

Austria, “Joy,...

Exclusive: Gary Rubin, Executive Vice President at Cohen Media, has been tapped for the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer at specialty distributor Menemsha Films. Neil Friedman, President of Menemsha, unveiled the news today. Established in 1998, Menemsha specializes in Jewish and Israeli-themed films and is believed to be the largest in that sector. The addition of Rubin continues the growth of the company which is believed to be the largest in the Jewish and Israeli cinema. Rubin will continue working at Cohen and step into his new role as COO at Menemsha October 7.

“Our company has had great success over its twenty one year history and we are bringing Gary on board to continue to expand the company’s businesses and increase that success,” said Friedman. “Gary is a talented executive and has an impeccable reputation in the industry which will be a tremendous asset for Menemsha’s strategies for growth.

Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro and Costa Rica are the latest countries to announce their entries for the newly rebranded International Feature Film award at the 92nd Academy Awards. All four countries are seeking their first Oscar nomination in what was formerly known as the foreign-language film category.

Latvia has selected Holocaust drama “The Mover” (pictured) as its entry for the award. It is the 12th time Latvia has submitted an entry. Director Davis Simanis Jr.’s film was created to mark Latvia centennial celebrations and was chosen by a seven-person panel on behalf of Latvia’s National Film Center.

Produced by Mistrus Media, “The Mover” tells the story of Zanis Lipke, a blue-collar worker honored for his heroic deeds during World War II. Despite his family’s hardship under German and Soviet occupations, Lipke embarked on a covert operation to save local Jews from Nazi persecution and certain death, moving them...

On Tuesday, the Moscow International Film Festival, Russia's main international film event, which is scheduled to run April 18-25, unveiled its lineup.

Among the 13 competitors for the Golden St. George, the fest's main award, are My Second Year in College from Iranian director Rasoul Sadrameli; Saturday Afternoon, a Bangladesh, Germany and Russia co-production directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki; My Polish Honeymoon by France's Elise Otzenberger; Davis Simanis' The Mover, a Latvia-Germany co-production; and In Search of Echo by Chinese director Zhang Chi.

The main competition jury will be chaired by Korean director Kim Ki-duk.

The highlights of the documentary competition include ...

On Tuesday, the Moscow International Film Festival, Russia's main international film event, which is scheduled to run April 18-25, unveiled its lineup.

Among the 13 competitors for the Golden St. George, the fest's main award, are My Second Year in College from Iranian director Rasoul Sadrameli; Saturday Afternoon, a Bangladesh, Germany and Russia co-production directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki; My Polish Honeymoon by France's Elise Otzenberger; Davis Simanis' The Mover, a Latvia-Germany co-production; and In Search of Echo by Chinese director Zhang Chi.

The main competition jury will be chaired by Korean director Kim Ki-duk.

The highlights of the documentary competition include ...