Who are the top contenders for best international feature at the Oscars?

France’s bold move with ‘Emilia Perez’

France has made a strategic choice this year, selecting Jacques Audiard’s crime musical, Emilia Perez, as its official Oscar entry. This selection marks a significant shift after the nation’s previous riskier decisions. In 2023, they chose “The Taste of Things” over the Palme d’Or-winning “Anatomy of a Fall,” and in 2021, the controversial “Titane” was selected over “Happening.”

With Netflix backing “Emilia Perez,” the film is gaining momentum in multiple categories, including best picture. Could this finally be the year France breaks its over 30-year Oscar drought since “Indochine” in 1992? Early buzz suggests it just might.

India’s unconventional selection

On the other side of the globe, India’s choice has ignited debates. Instead of selecting Payal Kapadia’s Cannes runner-up, “All We Imagine as Light,” the country went with “Laapataa Ladies.” This decision harkens back to the 2022 snub of “RRR,” where an internationally acclaimed film was overlooked due to internal politics and language barriers. With the reliable Janus Films and Sideshow handling its distribution, there’s still hope that “All We Imagine as Light” might secure a nomination.

Brazil’s emotional powerhouse

Brazil’s submission, Walter Salles’ emotionally charged drama, I’m Still Here, is garnering significant attention. The film’s gripping story and outstanding performances make it a strong contender, not just in the best international feature but possibly in major categories like best director, adapted screenplay, and actress for Fernanda Torres. With powerful emotional resonance, “I’m Still Here” could be an underdog in the best picture race, if hype continues to build.

Germany’s daring choice

Germany took a bold step by selecting Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, despite its Iranian setting and themes. The film, which won a special prize at Cannes, tells the gripping tale of an investigating judge in Tehran whose life falls apart amid anti-government protests. Rasoulof’s daring escape from Iran, where he was facing imprisonment, adds an intense real-life layer to the narrative. This could be a strategy that pays off, echoing Germany’s 2022 win with “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Breaking language barriers

It’s not uncommon for films to be submitted for the best international feature that aren’t entirely in the native language of the submitting country. Denmark’s selection of Holy Spider, mostly spoken in Farsi, and the multilingual documentary “Flee” serve as recent examples. This year, we see a similar trend with France’s “Emilia” and Latvia’s silent animated movie, “Flow.”

According to Academy rules, a film can be the official entry if it’s produced by companies or producers from the submitting country or if the crew predominantly hails from there. “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” listed as a co-production between the U.S., U.K., and Poland, meets these qualifications, setting it up as a strong competitor.

Predictions and rankings

With numerous strong contenders, the race for the best international feature at the Oscars is more exciting than ever. Here’s a look at the predicted nominees:

• 1. Emilia Perez (Netflix) from France
• 2. I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics) from Brazil
• 3. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon) from Germany
• 4. The Girl with the Needle (Mubi) from Denmark
• 5. Kneecap (Sony Pictures Classics) from Ireland

Other notable contenders

Several other films are vying for a spot in this prestigious category. Here are some that might surprise:

• 6. Dahomey (Mubi) from Senegal
• 7. Flow (Janus Films and Sideshow) from Latvia
• 8. Grand Tour (Mubi) from Portugal
• 9. Sujo (The Forge) from Mexico
• 10. Armand (IFC Films) from Norway

Even films that did not make the top five are still strong contenders, with compelling narratives and international acclaim. As we continue to see more diversity in the films recognized at the Oscars, the best international feature category remains a fascinating and competitive field.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts on which films you’re rooting for this year. Follow us for more updates on the latest in movies and the Oscars race!12“In Her Place” (Netflix) from Chile13“Vermiglio” (Janus Films) from Italy14“From Ground Zero” (No U.S. Distribution) from Palestine15“The Devil’s Bath” (IFC Films/Shudder) from Austria16“Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” (Well Go USA) from Hong Kong17“Memories of a Burning Body” (Metis Films) from Costa Rica18“Under the Volcano” (TVP Dystrybucja Kinowa) from Poland19“Laapataa Ladies” (T-Series) from India20“La Palisiada” (No U.S. Distribution) from UkraineOscars: Best International Feature (Variety Awards Circuit Predictions) Official Selections (Best International Feature) Image Credit: IFC FIlms This list is incomplete and not yet finalized. Not all films have distribution or release dates. All are subject to change.

  Albania — “Waterdrop” — dir. Robert Budina    Algeria — “Algiers” — dir. Chakib Taleb-Bendiab    Argentina — “Kill the Jockey” — dir. Luis Ortega    Armenia — “Yasha and Leonid Brezhnev” — dir. Edgar Baghdasaryan     Austria — “The Devil’s Bath” — dir. Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala    Bangladesh — “The Wrestler” — dir. Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury    Belgium — “Julie Keeps Quiet” — dir. Leonardo Van Dijl    Bolivia — “Own Hand” — dir. Gory Patiño     Bosnia and Herzegovina — “My Late Summer” — dir. Danis Tanović    Brazil — “I’m Still Here” — dir. Walter Salles    Bulgaria — “Triumph” — dir. Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov    Cambodia — “Meeting with Pol Pot” — dir. Rithy Panh    Cameroon — “Kismet” — dir. Ngang Romanus Ntseh    Canada — “Universal Language” — dir. Matthew Rankin    Chile — “In Her Place” — dir. Maite Alberdi    China — “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” — dir. Fang Li    Colombia — “La Suprema” — dir. Felipe Holguin    Costa Rica — “Memories of a Burning Body” — dir. Antonella Sudasassi    Croatia — “Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day” — dir. Ivona Juka    Czech Republic — “Waves” — dir. Jiří Mádl    Denmark — “The Girl with the Needle” — dir. Magnus von Horn    Dominican Republic — “Aire: Just Breathe” — dir. Leticia Tonos    Ecuador — “Behind the Mist” — dir. Sebastián Cordero    Egypt — “Flight 404” — dir. Hani Khalifa    Estonia — “8 Views of Lake Biwa” — dir. Marko Raat    Finland — “Family Time” — dir. Tia Kouvo    France — “Emilia Pérez” — dir. Jacques Audiard    Georgia — “The Antique” — dir. Rusudan Glurjidze    Germany — “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” — dir. Mohammad Rasoulof    Greece — “Murderess” — dir. Eva Nathena    Haiti — “Kidnapping Inc.” — dir. Bruno Mourral    Hong Kong — “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” — dir. Soi Cheang    Hungary — “Semmelweis” — dir. Lajos Koltai    Iceland — “Touch” — dir. Baltasar Kormákur    India — “Laapataa Ladies” — dir. Kiran Rao    Indonesia — “Women from Rote Island” — dir. Jeremias Nyangoen    Iran — “In the Arms of the Tree” — dir. Babak Lotfi Khajepasha    Ireland — “Kneecap” — dir. Rich Peppiatt    Israel — “Come Closer” — dir. Tom Nesher    Italy — “Vermiglio” — dir. Maura Delpero    Japan — “Cloud” — dir. Kurosawa Kiyoshi    Jordan — “My Sweet Land” — dir. Sareen Hairabedian    Kazakhstan — “Bauryna Salu” — dir. Askhat Kuchencherekov    Kenya — “Nawi” — dir. Vallentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine, Kevin Schmutzler and Toby Schmutzler    Kyrgyzstan — “Heaven is Beneath Mother’s Feet” — dir. Ruslan Akun    Latvia — “Flow” — dir. Gints Zilbalodis    Lithuania — “Drowning Dry” — dir. Laurynas Bareiša    Malaysia — “Abang Adik” — dir. Jin Ong    Malta — “Castillo” — dir. Abigail Mallia    Mexico — “Sujo” — dir. Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez    Mongolia — “If Only I Could Hibernate” — dir. Zoljargal Purevdash    Montenegro — “Supermarket” — dir. Nemanja Bečanović    Morocco — “Everybody Loves Touda” — dir. Nabil Ayouch    Nepal — “Shambhala” — dir. Min Bahadur Bham    Netherlands — “Memory Lane” — dir. Jelle de Jonge    Norway — “Armand” — dir. Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel    Pakistan — “The Glassworker” — dir. Usman Riaz    Palestine — “From Ground Zero” — dir. Aws Al-Banna, Ahmed Al-Danf, Basil Al-Maqousi, Mustafa Al-Nabih, Muhammad Alshareef, Ala Ayob, Bashar Al Balbisi, Alaa Damo, Awad Hana, Ahmad Hassunah, Mustafa Kallab, Satoum Kareem, Mahdi Karera, Rabab Khamees, Khamees Masharawi, Wissam Moussa, Tamer Najm, Abu Hasna Nidaa, Damo Nidal, Mahmoud Reema, Etimad Weshah and Islam Al Zrieai    Panama — “Wake Up Mom” — dir. Arianne Benedetti    Paraguay — “The Last” — dir. Sebastián Peña Escobar    Peru — “Yana-Wara” — dir. Óscar Catacora and Tito Catacora    Philippines — “And So It Begins” — dir. Ramona S. Diaz    Poland — “Under the Volcano” — dir. Damian Kocur    Portugal — “Grand Tour” — dir. Miguel Gomes    Romania — “Three Kilometres to the End of the World” — dir. Emanuel Pârvu    Senegal — “Dahomey” — dir. Mati Diop    Serbia — “Russian Consul” — dir. Miroslav Lekić     Singapore — “La Luna” — dir. M. Raihan Halim    Slovakia — “The Hungarian Dressmaker” — dir. Iveta Grófová    Slovenia — “Family Therapy” — dir. Sonja Prosenc    South Africa — “Old Righteous Blues” — dir. Muneera Sallies    South Korea — “12.12: The Day” — dir. Kim Sung-su    Spain — “Saturn Return” — dir. Isaki Lacuesta and Pol Rodríguez    Sweden — “The Last Journey” — dir. Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson    Switzerland — “Reinas” — dir. Klaudia Reynicke    Taiwan — “Old Fox” — dir. Hsiao Ya-chuan    Tajikistan — “Melody” — dir. Behrouz Sebt Rasoul    Thailand — “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” — dir. Pat Boonnitipat    Tunisia — “Take My Breath” — dir. Nada Mezni Hafaiedh    Turkey — “Life” — dir. Zeki Demirkubuz    Ukraine — “La Palisiada” — dir. Philip Sotnychenko    United Kingdom — “Santosh” — dir. Sandhya Suri    Uruguay — “The Door is There” — dir. Facundo Ponce de León and Juan Ponce de León    Venezuela — “Back to Life” — dir. Luis Carlos Hueck and Alfredo Hueck    Vietnam — “Peach Blossom Pho and Piano” — dir. Phi Tiến Sơn                                       More Information (Oscars: Best International Feature)                                                                       Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images                                                                     2024 category winner: “The Zone of Interest” (A24) from United Kingdom

    2024-2025 Oscars Calendar and Timeline – Full awards season calendar here

  Eligibility period: Jan. 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024    General entry, best picture, RAISE submission deadline: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024    Governors Awards: Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024    Preliminary voting begins Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, at 9 a.m. PT.    Preliminary voting ends Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at 5 p.m. PT.    Oscar Shortlists Announcement: Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024    Eligibility period ends: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024    Nominations voting begins Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at 9 a.m. PT.    Nominations voting ends Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT.    Oscar Nominations Announcement: Friday, Jan. 17, 2025    Oscar Nominees Luncheon: Monday, Feb. 10, 2025    Final voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. PT    Final voting ends: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT    Scientific and Technical Awards: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025    97th Oscars: Sunday, March 2, 2025                Oscars Prediction Categories        ——Best PictureDirectorActor in a Leading RoleActress in a Leading RoleActor in a Supporting RoleActress in a Supporting RoleOriginal ScreenplayAdapted ScreenplayAnimated FeatureProduction DesignCinematographyCostume DesignFilm EditingMakeup and HairstylingSoundVisual EffectsOriginal ScoreOriginal SongDocumentary FeatureInternational FeatureAnimated ShortDocumentary ShortLive Action ShortCasting (coming in 2026)2024 Oscar Predictions (Variety Awards Circuit)               About the Academy Awards            The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. Since 1927, nominees and winners have been selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Seventeen branches are represented within the nearly 10,000-person membership. The branches are actors, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary, executives, film editors, makeup and hairstylists, marketing and public relations, members-at-large, members-at-large (artists’ representatives), music, producers, production design, short films and feature animation, sound, visual effects and writers.

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