Thoughts on the place of art in our world today convince me that we are doomed when art is censored and proscribed. Art is subversive by nature, anti-establishment because it creates new visions. It also creates purpose and it redeems us from the materialistic and chaotic that so frequently envelops us. Through art, we can transcend into the idea[l], the spiritual, the immaterial realms of being. Real art creates new universes.
Fifteen films shortlisted for the International Feature Film category will advance to the next round of voting for the 96th Academy Awards. Films from 88 countries and regions were eligible in the category and 15 were chosen. Out of that, five will be nominated and of course, only one will win, though all are winners in their lands and in coming to the Academy Awards, getting a glimpse of our world here in LaLaLand.
In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.
The films are listed here in my own favored order by country — but I have to see the rest still. And I apologize to my friends and countries I love but may not have put into a Number One position. I call it as I see it, no malice intended.
United Kingdom, The Zone of Interest directed by Jonathan Glazer. Cannes Competition 2023 winner of Grand Prix. This will win if the Academy goes for the most intellectually stirring and gut-wrenching account of fascist life as lived by good fascists.
U.S. release February 2 by A24. ISA A24 has licensed it to Argentina and Brazil — Diamond Film; Australia and New Zealand — Madman; Germany-Leonine; Greece-Spentzos; Japan-Happinet; Poland-Gutek; Portugal-Alambique; Romania-Bad Unicorn, U.K.-Film Four; U.S.-A24 (of course — and I assume they also have Canada).
France, The Taste of Things directed by Anh Hung Tran. Cannes Competition 2023 winner of Best Director to Anh Hung Tran (The Scent of Green Papaya). This will win if the Academy goes for the most luxurious, taste-good, mood altering classic French cuisine movie.
U.S. release February 9 by Sapan and IFC. ISA Gaumont has licensed it to Australia and New Zealand-Rialto; Austria-Polyfilm; Benelux-Cherry Pickers; Brazil-Diamond; Canada-Mongrel; France-Gaumont (of course); Germany-Weltkino; Greece-Rosebud; Hong Kong (China)-First Distributors; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Gaga; Latin America-Sun; Portugal-Sun; Spain-A Contracorriente; Switzerland-Frenetic; Taiwan-Swallow Wings; Thailand-Hal, U.K. and Ireland-Picturehouse. U.S.-Sapan and IFC.
Denmark, The Promised Land directed Nikolaj Arcel. Premier Venice Film Festival and winner of three European Awards for Best Actor, Cinematographer and Costume Designer. This will win if the Academy wants a grand, sweeping and satisfying saga of the triumph of the underdog, played by one of the world’s greatest actors today.
U.S. release February 2 by Magnolia. ISA TrustNordisk has licensed to over 50 territories including Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; Canada-Mongrel; Czech Republic (now called Czechia), Slovakia-Film Europe; Denmark-Nordisk; Finland-Atlantic; France-The Jokers; Germany-Koch (now Plaion); Greece-Weird Wave; Hungary-Vertigo; Italy-Movies Inspired; MENA (Middle East and North Africa)-Front Row; Poland-Best; Portugal-Alambique; Russia-Arna and Atmsfera Kino; Spain-Divisa Red and Team; U.S.-Magnolia
Mexico, Totem directed by Lila Avilés. Premiere Berlinale Competition 2023, winner of Ecumenical Jury Prize; Telluride 2023. This film especially touches my heart. I can personally vouch for its authenticity for I, like the protagonist, was also seven years old when my father died. Sol is lucky that they got to say goodbye to one another. We did not. But the sweet sadness of Sol resonates with me completely. The relationship between a father and his daughter at seven is so delicate; its fragility is like a budding flower.
U.S. release by Sideshow and Janus (Criterion) January 26th. ISA Alpha Violet licensed the film to Australia and New Zealand-Hi Gloss; Austria-Polyfilm; Benelux-Vedette, Cassette; Canada-Films We Like; Denmark-Camera; Ex-Yugo and Albania-MCF Megacom; France-Rezo; Germany-Piffl; Greece-Cinobo; Italy-Officine UBU; Japan-Bitters End; Mexico-Canibal; Poland-New Horizons; Spain-Adso; Switzerland-trigon; Taiwan-Hooray; U.K.-New Wave; U.S.-Sideshow, Janus, Criterion
Italy, Io Capitano directed by Matteo Garrone. Premiere Venice Film Festival 2023 with a 13-minute standing ovation and winner of the Silver Lion for Garrone and Best Emerging Actor for Seydou Sarr.
U.S. theatrical release by Cohen Media early 2024. ISA Pathe has licensed rights to Benelux-Paradiso; France-Pathe (of course); India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar (SAARC)-Alliance; Italy-01; Poland-Aurora; Romania-Bad Unicorn; Russia-Exponenta; YouPlanet-Spain; Switzerland-Pathe; U.K.-Altitude; U.S.-Cohen Media.
Personally, I really wanted the “African space” to be occupied by an African filmmaker, not a European giving us the pity the poor immigrant picture where the underdog wins…for now. What happens to our hero when he lands on the shores of Sicily or Lampedusa with the newly passed European Immigration Law?
“This new system will make sure we have prison camps at our borders and should have never been accepted,” said German EU lawmaker Damian Boeselager, a member of the European Greens. “The negotiators agreed to undermine the right to seek asylum.”
Several aid agencies that work with migrants, such as Amnesty International, Oxfam, Caritas and Save the Children, have also slammed the reform, saying it will create a “cruel system” that is also unworkable.
“Not one single life will be saved by today’s decision. This agreement is a historic failure and a bow to the right-wing parties of Europe,” said the Sea-Watch rescue charity in a statement it said was backed by more than a dozen NGOs.
The EU migration reform agreement comes as the French parliament has just approved a divisive immigration bill that also contains stricter rules enabling the faster deportation of certain foreigners and that has drawn considerable criticism from leftist lawmakers and migration advocacy groups. (DW World, tj/fb (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
Bhutan, The Monk and The Gun by Pawo Choyning Dorji. His films don’t even play the top Five Fests. This played other fests and always won top prize at Illuminate (Danette Wolpert’s festival, now in Santa Barbara), Mumbai (probably the top film festival in India and coming up into the international landscape more and more) and Rome (always in with those who get to go). My guess is, that as Kaouther Ben Hania who has become the Academy Darling of North Africa and the Middle East (nominated two years ago for The Man Who Sold His Skin; this year shortlisted for both documentary and feature categories with Four Daughters), so Pawo Choyning Dorji will become the Academy Darling of South Asia. A self-taught filmmaker, though totally international in outlook (son of a diplomat, raised abroad and studied poli sci in the U.S.), his ease and humor looking at the world reflects so positively on Bhutan, the happiest of nations, that it is pure pleasure to watch his films about education (A Yak in the Classroom was nominated last year but lost out to All Quiet on the Western Front) and democracy (his current film). His films give us a chance to enjoy the ideals we have set for ourselves.
U.S. release February 2024 by Roadside Attractions. Top notch ISA, Films Boutique has licensed the film to Rialto for Australia, N.Z.; MFA+ for Austria and Germany; September for Benelux, Pyramide for France; EDKO for Hong Kong and Macao; India to Impact; Israel to Lev, Italy to Officine UBU; Japan-Maxam I; No. America — Roadside Attractions; Poland — Aurora; Portugal-Alambique; Spain-A Contracorriente, Sweden-Future Films; Switzerland-trigon.
Finland, Fallen Leaves directed by Aki Kaurismäki. Premiere Mumbai 2023 and Cannes 2023. One one hand Kaurismäki deserves an Award as he has been in the top international feature level since 1981. His most acclaimed film, The Man Without a Past, won the Grand Prix and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2003. However, Kaurismäki refused to attend the Oscar ceremony, asserting that he did not feel like partying in a country that was in a state of war. Kaurismäki’s next film Lights in the Dusk was also chosen to be Finland’s nominee for best foreign-language film, but Kaurismäki again boycotted the awards and refused the nomination, as a protest against U.S. President George W. Bush’s foreign policy. So nu? Where does this leave him? Have we improved or has he mellowed? We’ll see.
U.S. theatrical release by MUBI was November 17, 2023. It is available on MUBI now. The innovative ISA The Match Factory (owner of MUBI) has licensed the film to Argentina-Maco; Australia, New Zealand — Palace; Baltics-A-One; Benelux-September; Brazil-02Play; Canada-Films We Like; China-Road Pictures; Colombia-Cineplex; Central America-Pacifica Gray; Denmark-Camera; Finland-B Plan; France-Diaphana; Germany and Austria-Pandora (owned by The Match Factory); Greece-Cinobo; Hungary-Cirko; Iceland-Heimili Kvikmyndanna — Bio Paradis; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Bim; Japan-Eurospace; MENA-Moving Turtle; Norway-Arthaus; Poland-Aurora; Portugal-Midas; Romania-Bad Unicorn; Spain-Avalon; Sweden-Folkets Bio; Switzerland-Filmcoopi; U.S., U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Latin America, Turkey, India, World-MUBI
Armenia, Amerikatsi directed by Michael A. Goorjian— have not yet seen. Premiered at Woodstock, went on to Hamburg, played Beloit International Film Festival in U.S., Cinequest, Glasgow, Fargo, and River Run from September 2022 to April 2023. That is a very eclectic and unusual festival trail.
It was released September 8, 2023 in a limited engagement. I did see it on the Laemmle theater marquis in Glendale where the big Armenian community lives when I went to my hairdresser Ani Gafafyan.
We all wait for a definitive film which will finally move the needle on recognizing the Armenian Genocide the way Franz Werfel’s 40 Days of Musa Dagh woke people when it came out in the early 30s. Its publication in Germany preceded the Holocaust by only about seven years. It was almost made into a film starring Clark Gable, but the Turkish government lobbied against it heavily, so it was never made. Perhaps this is the film that will move the needle.
Michael Goorjian must be an American independent (like so many indies) pushing at the boundaries and still remaining marginal until now. This acclaim, from what my Armenian friends tell me, is well-deserved.
Amerikatsi is about a man who escaped the Armenian genocide as a boy by fleeing to the United States, but returns as an adult and is arrested. From his prison cell he can watch an Armenian couple and so finally learns about his homeland. ISA Amadeus has licensed U.S. rights to Variance who released it in September 2023.
Iceland, Godland directed by Hlynur Pálmason— have not yet seen. Premiered at Telluride and TIFF in 2022. Janus/ Criterion picked it up just prior to the festivals. Also screened in Cannes Un Certain Regard 2022. U.S. release February 2023; it is available on Criterion.
ISA New Europe Film Sales has licensed it to Australia, New Zealand-Palace; Baltics-Scanorama; Benelux-Imagine; Estonia-Estinfilm; Finland-Cinemanse; France-Jour2Fete; Greece, Cyprus-One From The Heart; Hungary-Vertigo; Poland-New Horizonss; So. Korea-M&M; Sweden-Folkets; Taiwan-Hooray; U.K. Curzon, U.S. Janus/ Criterion.
Japan, Perfect Days directed by Wim Wenders — have not yet seen. Premiere Cannes 2023, Winner Best Actor to Kôji Yakusho, Ecumenical Jury Prize to Wim Wenders.
U.S. theatrical release by Neon early 2024. ISA The Match Factory has licensed it to Australia, New Zealand-Madmen; Austria-Polyfilm; Baltics — A-One; Benelux-Paradiso; Bulgaria-Art Fest; China-DDDream; Czech Republic and Slovakia-Aerofilms; Denmark- Camera; France-Haut et Court; Germany, Switzerland-DCM; Greece-Feel Good; Hong Kong-EDKO; Hungary-Cirko; Iceland- Heimili Kvikmyndanna — Bio Paradis; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Bitters End; MENA-Moving Turtle; Norway-Arthaus; Poland-Gutek; Portugal-Alambique; Romania-Bad Unicorn; Russia--A-One; Singapore-Anticipate; Spain-A Contracorriente; Sweden-Triart; Taiwan-Applause, U.K., Ireland, Turkey-MUBI; U.S.-Neon
Germany, The Teachers’ Lounge directed by Ilker Çatak. Premiered at the Berlinale Panorama where it won Label Europa Cinemas and the C.I.C.A.E. prize. Having been a teacher for five years, I am always interested in the subject. I would like to compare and contrast The Teachers’ Lounge with Kore-Eda’s Monster, Nuri Bilge Ceylon’s About Dry Grasses, and contrast it to Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, and Radical by Christopher Zalla in which a teacher in a Mexican border town full of neglect, corruption, and violence, tries a radical new method to unlock students’ curiosity, potential — and maybe even their genius. Today we know that if a student objects to something about the teacher or something the teacher says in class, the teacher immediately bears a heavy burden to prove that the words or actions were a propos. But this teacher makes some poor decisions which put her into a quagmire. I blame her but I still feel for her.
Germany is the third most-nominated country behind France and Italy. It has received 21 Oscar© nominations, with four wins (1979 The Tin Drum, 2002 Nowhere in Africa, 2006 The Lives of Others, 2022 All Quiet on the Western Front). This is counting the five East German submissions that sometimes competed against West Germany. The great director Rainer Werner Fassbinder was submitted once, in 1981, for Lili Marleen. He died the following year at age 37.
Sony Pictures Classics will release The Teachers’ Lounge on Christmas Day.
ISA Be for Films has licensed The Teachers’ Lounge to Australia and New Zealand to Madman; Austria-Panda Lixhtspiele; Benelux-Cineart; France-Tandem; Germany and Austria-Alamode; Greece-Cinobo; Hungary-Mozinert; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-King Records; Portugal-Alambique; Singapore-Lighthouse; So. Korea-Studio DHL; MENA (Middle East & North Africa)-Moving Turtle; Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Baltic)-Nonstop; Spain-A Contracorriente; Switzerland-Filmcoopi; Taiwan-Light Year Images; Turkey-Bir; U.K. and Ireland-Curzon; U.S. and Canada-Sony Pictures Classics.
Spain, Society of the Snow directed by Juan Antonio Bayona — have not yet seen. People in the Academy liked it alot. Premiere Venice. However the Cineuropa review kills it for me:
“VENICE 2023: Juan Antonio Bayona brings not much new to the recreation of the incredible plane crash in the Andes in 1973, which has already been seen in previous films such as Alive!”
Netflix has the world and it has sold to Argentina-Maco; Brazil-02Play & Netflix; Mexico-Pimienta; Portugal-NOS; Spain-Netflix; U.S.-Netflix
Ukraine, 20 Days in Mariupol directed by Mstyslav Chernov — have not yet seen. Premiere Sundance Film Festival 2023 World Cinema Documentary Audience Award for Best Doc. As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war’s atrocities. Completed in 2022. ISA Dogwoof thus far has licensed it to Australia, New Zealand-Madman; Finland-Finnkino and YLE (Yleisradio); France-Originals Factory ; Spain-Filmin, Ukraine-Arthouse Traffic
Morocco, The Mother of All Lies directed by Asmae El Moudir. This documentary premiered in Cannes 2023 Un Certain Regard where it won for Best Director. ISA Autlook licensed to Benelux-Vedette; France-Arizona
Tunisia, Four Daughters by Kaouther ben Hania. This documentary premiered in Cannes Competition 2023. U.S. theatrical release by Kino Lorber was October 27th, 2023. ISA The Party Film Sales has licensed it to Austria-Polyfilm; English Canada-Mongrel; French Canada-Metropole; Denmark-Camera; Ex Yugo-Discovery +; Finland-Cinemanse; France-Jour2Fete; Germany-Rapid Eye Movies; Greece-Ama; Hungary-Vertigo; Iceland-Heimili Kvikmyndanna- Bio Paradis; Italy-I Wonder; Norway-Arthaus; Poland-New Horizons; Portugal-Nitrato; Romania-Bad Unicorn; Spain-Caramel; Sweden-TriArt; Switzerland-trigon; Tunisia-Hakka; Turkey-Bir; U.S.-Kino Lorber
I do not think documentaries should qualify for both the Doc Category and the International Feature Category. The two categories are both very small (boxoffice wise) and the field is very crowded. To take two places in the crowded categories seems unfair somehow. Perhaps there could be a Best International Doc category added to make the doc field less crowded, like Sundance does.
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