Top Foreign-Language Contenders for the 2015 Oscars

There are about 12 foreign-language contenders for the 2015 Oscars that are worth knowing. So far 60 countries have submitted their entries for the foreign-language film category of the 87th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars), which will be gracing your television screens on February 22, 2015. The deadline for the submission is on October 1. Russia and China have yet to make their submissions while Kosovo and Mauritania submitted their first ever entries.

2015 Oscars Top picks

This early pundits and film critics are making their own predictions as to which film will make it in 2015.

Spain’s entry is “Living is Easy with Eyes Closed,” which has won six Goya Awards. It was directed by David Trueba and grossed $11,600 in Miami in one weekend when it opened in June. Spain has won in the Oscars’ foreign film category four times.

The Damian Szifron-directed “Wild Tales” is Argentina’s entry. The collection of six stand-alone shorts received praise from critic Jay Weissberg for its radical humor. The shorts are united by their vengeance theme.

“Two Days, One Night,” a film directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne is Belgium’s entry. In the lead role is Marion Cotillard, who portrays the role of a factory worker. It is a “superb social drama” according to chief critic Scott Foundas. While the film tackles family, value of money and work, it has a suspenseful presentation.

Peter Debruge, chief international critic praised “Mommy,” which is Canada’s entry. He called it an original work that is heartbreaking and funny. The film was directed by 25-year old Xavier Dolan. The film took the jury prize when it debuted in Cannes.

Chief critic Scott Foundas also praised Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” a film by Dominik Graf. He called it a “gorgeously mounted and enthralling” portrayal of the relationship among three people – the wife, her sister and the husband, Friedrich Schiller, a philosopher.

Ann Hui’s “The Golden Era” is a biopic of Xiao Hong, a Chinese writer. The entry from Hong Kong was the closing film at the Venice Festival. Reviewer Guy Lodge called it a very intelligent performance by Tang Wei. It will be shown in China’s theaters starting October 1.

Italy chose to submit Paolo Virzi’s “Human Capital,” a melodrama dealing with several issues, in the context of the financial crisis.

Israel submitted “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, which was one of the best-received films at Cannes.

Cannes jury prize winner “Force Majeure,” directed by Ruben Ostlund is Sweden’s entry and the second film by the same director to be submitted to the foreign language category of the Oscars.

“Winter Sleep” won the Palme d’Or in Cannes and will be representing Turkey in next year’s Oscars. The film was directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

“Cantinflas,” Mexico’s entry, earned $4.5M and $6M in the box office in Mexico and the U.S., respectively. It was directed by Sebastian del Amo.

The favorite among critics is Poland’s entry, titled “Ida.” The Pavel Pawlikowski-directed film tells the Holocaust story of a Jewish nun. The film was shot in black and white.

Other entries

“Rocks in My Pockets” by Signe Baumane from Latvia. The animated movie tells the story of mental illness, which runs in the female director’s family.

“Mr. Kaplan,” directed by Alvaro Brechner is Uruguay’s entry. France submitted “Saint Laurent,” which was helmed by Bertrand Bonello while Kosovo’s first ever entry is titled “Three Windows and a Hanging.” Iceland sent in “Life in a Fishbowl” and Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted “With Mom.” Thailand’s entry is a comedy, titled “Teacher’s Day,” which will be screened at the Busan International Film Festival next month.

Palestinian territories chose “Eyes of a Thief” as their entry and Singapore sent in “My Dearest Beloved.” India submitted “Liar’s Dice,” which was a hit during the Sundance Film Festival. The entry from the Philippines is the four-hour long “Norte: The End of History.” The epic film was a big hit at the Toronto and New York Film festivals.

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