Oscar shortlists: here are the European films in the running for best international film

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the shortlists in ten categories, including Best International Feature Film, one of the most exciting because it highlights the best of cinema from around the world.

And, let’s be honest, most of the best films tend to get held back. In recent years, Roma (2018) d’Alfonso Cuarón, Parasite(2019) by Bong Joon-ho et Drive My Car (2021) by Ryusuke Hamaguchi all won the coveted Oscar for Best International Film – and they were easily the best of their respective years.

There haven’t been many surprises or scandalous exclusions this year, with Emilia PerezJacques Audiard’s musical comedy about transsexual cartels, already awarded et nominated for several Golden Globeswhich was selected alongside Wild fig tree seeds, Santosh, Flow et Dahomeythe winning film of the Berlinale.

According to this list, which will be narrowed down to five when the Oscar nominations are announcedon Friday January 17, the main candidates are European: Emilia Perez (France), The Young Woman with the Needle (Denmark), Wild fig tree seeds (Germany) and Kneecap (Ireland).

Moreover, I’m still here – the return of Brazilian director Walter Salles – is another favorite. This is a moving and factual story of missing in Brazil in the 1970s, under military rule, told from the point of view of those who were left behind.

Here is the complete list of films competing for the Best International Feature Film award:

• I’m still here (Brazil)
• A universal language (Canada)
• Waves (Czech Republic)
• The Young Woman with the Needle (Denmark)
• Emilia Perez (France)
• The seeds of the wild fig tree (Germany)
• Touch (Iceland)
• Kneecap (Ireland)
• Vermiglio or The Mountain Bride (Italy)
• Flow (Latvia)
• The Convocation (Armand) (Norway)
• From Ground Zero (Palestine)
• Dahomey (Senegal)
• How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies(Thailand)
• Santosh (United Kingdom)

If we had to take out our crystal balls, we would bet on I’m still here, Emilia Perez, The seeds of the wild fig tree, Kneecap et From Ground Zero to get the last five nominations.

Stay tuned to Euronews Culture for our list of the best films of 2024, which includes many of these nominees.

Nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on Friday, January 17 and the Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place on Sunday, March 2.

Additional sources • adaptation: Serge Duchêne