While it might be Christmas for everyone else, for those hustling the awards season campaigns, the maneuvering keeps going. And we’re sure there will be no shortage of publicists, agents and studio head making calls this afternoon now that the Oscar race for Best Foreign Language Film has been tightened up.
The Academy has dropped their shortlist of the nine Foreign Language Film contenders, of which only five will make it to the Dolby Theatre. And no total shocks here with Cannes-winning, critically acclaimed “The Hunt,” the celebrated Euro entries “The Great Beauty” and “The Broken Circle Breakdown” along with Wong Kar-wai‘s dreamy kung fu flick “The Grandmaster” all sliding in. And while there will be talk of snubs, the biggest one in our mind is Asghar Farhadi‘s “The Past” completely missing the cut. Also snubbed was the very well regarded and charming “Wadjda” and festival sensation/Playlist fave “Gloria.”
Meanwhile, we’re sorta totally shocked to see Danis Tanovic‘s “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker” in there (though as a previous winner, his name was probable familiar to voters wading through screeners).
The Oscar nominations will be announced on January 16, 2014. Who are you betting on? Full shortlist below. [Variety]
Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director
Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director
Denmark, “The Hunt,” Thomas Vinterberg, director
Germany, “Two Lives,” Georg Maas, director
Hong Kong, “The Grandmaster,” Wong Kar-wai, director
Hungary, “The Notebook,” Janos Szasz, director
Italy, “The Great Beauty,” Paolo Sorrentino, director
Palestine, “Omar,” Hany Abu-Assad, director
