THESE COUNTRIES ARE OUT OF THE RACE, OR ARE THEY?
OCTOBER 14, 2022
OCTOBER 14, 2022
(Cambodia, South Africa, Azerbaijan)
We now have 85 submissions. We're eagerly waiting for The Academy to announce the official list of films. Every year there are some submissions that weren't announced officially. There are some films that ended up not being submitted. There are some that ended up being disqualified. And there are sometimes some rare situations where a country ended up submitting another film than the one that they announced previously.
As of right now, the following countries have not submitted a film yet, even though they submitted a film last year:
As of right now, the following countries have not submitted a film yet, even though they submitted a film last year:
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bhutan
Cambodia
Cameroon
Chad
China
Egypt
Haiti
Malawi
Malaysia
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
South Africa
United Kingdom
Uzbekistan
Azerbaijan
Bhutan
Cambodia
Cameroon
Chad
China
Egypt
Haiti
Malawi
Malaysia
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
South Africa
United Kingdom
Uzbekistan
These 17 countries can still show up on the final list, so let's see who they might've submitted, or who they could've submitted.
We thought that Australia would submit the horror film You Won't Be Alone. Featuring Noomi Rapace, it follows a young girl who is kidnapped and then transformed into a witch by an ancient spirit. The film has an excellent score of 80 on Metacritic and it's already been widely seen in theatres. It seemed like an easy choice for them to pick.
Azerbaijan has Sermon to the Fish. This film maybe didn't meet the eligibility rules, since it's unclear if it was released in their country in 2022. It follows a soldier who returns from war and finds out that everyone in his village has rotted away due to a mysterious illness. Hopefully it might be their pick for next year.
Cambodia has Everything Will Be Ok. It's a documentary fantasy film about animals who have enslaved humans and have taken over the world. This film has already played in multiple festivals, but it's also unclear if it has met the eligibility rules for The Academy.
We thought that Australia would submit the horror film You Won't Be Alone. Featuring Noomi Rapace, it follows a young girl who is kidnapped and then transformed into a witch by an ancient spirit. The film has an excellent score of 80 on Metacritic and it's already been widely seen in theatres. It seemed like an easy choice for them to pick.
Azerbaijan has Sermon to the Fish. This film maybe didn't meet the eligibility rules, since it's unclear if it was released in their country in 2022. It follows a soldier who returns from war and finds out that everyone in his village has rotted away due to a mysterious illness. Hopefully it might be their pick for next year.
Cambodia has Everything Will Be Ok. It's a documentary fantasy film about animals who have enslaved humans and have taken over the world. This film has already played in multiple festivals, but it's also unclear if it has met the eligibility rules for The Academy.
(You Won't Be Alone)
There have been some reports that China has submitted Nice View as their choice, but they never announced it publicly. I can't see them not submitting a film. It follows Jing Hao who came to Shenzhen to live with his younger sister alone. His sister needs surgery, so he tries to find the money needed before it's too late. The film has been released in China in February so let's see if it's on the final list.
Egypt's Oscar Selection Committee announced a shortlist of five films: The Crime, Full Moon, Kira and El Gin, 2 Talaat Harb and Villa 19-B. On September 29, it was announced that a majority of the committee voted not to send any film and that Egypt would be absent for the first time since 2015. The committee thought that none of the films met the high standards of the Oscars.
Malaysia has the film Stone Turtle, which looks like an easy pick for them. It's about a time-traveling tale of a woman living in the Malaysian east coast, who gets entangled with a man, in a dangerous dance of duplicity and deception. The film has been getting good reviews so far.
Egypt's Oscar Selection Committee announced a shortlist of five films: The Crime, Full Moon, Kira and El Gin, 2 Talaat Harb and Villa 19-B. On September 29, it was announced that a majority of the committee voted not to send any film and that Egypt would be absent for the first time since 2015. The committee thought that none of the films met the high standards of the Oscars.
Malaysia has the film Stone Turtle, which looks like an easy pick for them. It's about a time-traveling tale of a woman living in the Malaysian east coast, who gets entangled with a man, in a dangerous dance of duplicity and deception. The film has been getting good reviews so far.
(Nice View)
Russia's Oscar Committee, headed by Pavel Chukhray, confirmed its intention to submit a film on September 23. However, on September 26, the Russian Film Academy announced they would not enter.
South Africa's documentary No Simple Way Home feels like an excellent choice for them to submit. The film takes place in South Sudan. As peace in South Sudan hangs in the balance, a mother and her two daughters return home from exile. The mother's mission is to safeguard her late husbands's vision while her daughters struggle with what it means to call South Sudan home.
Bhutan made a huge splash last year being nominated for Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, but this year they don't seem to have any films to submit. Cameroon, Chad, Haiti, Malawi, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan as well.
South Africa's documentary No Simple Way Home feels like an excellent choice for them to submit. The film takes place in South Sudan. As peace in South Sudan hangs in the balance, a mother and her two daughters return home from exile. The mother's mission is to safeguard her late husbands's vision while her daughters struggle with what it means to call South Sudan home.
Bhutan made a huge splash last year being nominated for Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, but this year they don't seem to have any films to submit. Cameroon, Chad, Haiti, Malawi, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan as well.