If you want to get in the International Film Oscar race get your ass to the Cannes Film Festival. This year, eight titles that made the 15 films cut debuted on la Croisette including Asghar Farhadi’s “A Hero,” Joachim Trier’s “The Worst Person in the World” and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s NYFCC and LAFCA Best Film winner, “Drive My Car.” This year’s Palme d’Or winner and the French submission, “Titane,” was snubbed. In hindsight, “Petite Maman” or “Happening,” both worthy submissions, would have been the better choice.
READ MORE: LA Film critics select “Drive My Car” as the Best Film of 2021
It should be noted that Netflix, Neon, and Neon had two domestic releases make the cut while Amazon Studios, A24, Bleeker Street, Janus Films, and Sony Pictures Classics had one each.
Academy members will now screen the shortlisted films to determine which five make the final cut. Those nominees will be announced with the rest of the Oscar nominations on Tuesday, February 8.
Here is the complete list of the 15 contenders still in the race for the International Film Academy Award:
“A Hero” (Iran)
“Drive My Car” (Japan)
“The Worst Person in the World” (Norway)
“Flee” (Denmark)
“The Hand of God” (Italy)
“Compartment no. 6” (Finland)
“I’m Your Man” (Germany)
“Prayers for the Stolen” (Mexico)
“Lamb” (Iceland)
“Hive” (Kosovo)
“Great Freedom” (Austria)
“Plaza Cathedral”(Panama)
“The Good Boss” (Spain)
“Playground” (Belgium)
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” (Bhutan)
The 2022 Academy Awards nominees will be announced on Tuesday, February 8.