'Close, Bardo, Decision To Leave Make International Film Shortlist

In a year where most consultants felt there was little competition for the 15 film shortlist, well, there wasn’t. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the remaining International Film contenders and it was somewhat predictable. Cannes winners “Close,” “Corsage,” “Decision to Leave,” “Holy Spider,” “EO” and “Joyland” all made the cut.

Netflix’s two contenders, “All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany) and the polarizing “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” (Mexico), each made the list. It’s unlikely both will be nominated, however.

Among the small list of snubs is Spain’s “Alcarras” and Norway’s “War Sailor.”

In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.

Overall, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “All Quiet on the Western Front” led all shortlist mentions with five each. “Avatar: The Way of Water” earned four while “The Batman,” “Babylon,” “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” and “Top Gun: Maverick” had three each. “Nope,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “Elvis” scored two each.

The complete list of international film shortlisted contenders is as follows:

Argentina, “Argentina, 1985”
Austria, “Corsage”
Belgium, “Close”
Cambodia, “Return to Seoul”
Denmark, “Holy Spider”
France, “Saint Omer”
Germany, “All Quiet on the Western Front”
India, “Last Film Show”
Ireland, “The Quiet Girl”
Mexico, “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”
Morocco, “The Blue Caftan”
Pakistan, “Joyland”
Poland, “EO”
South Korea, “Decision to Leave”
Sweden, “Cairo Conspiracy”

For more on this year’s shortlists:

Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna look like an Oscar producers dream on the Original Song shortlist

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Elvis” and “The Whale” top Makeup and Hairstyling

“Avatar: The Way of Water,” “NOPE” make Visual Effects Shortlist, Plus Best Sound Shortlist

Complete Feature Documentary, Doc Short, Live Action Short and Animated Short Oscar Shortlists

The 2023 Oscar nominations will be revealed on January 24, 2023.