This year, there was a moderate controversy over what requirements a film must meet to be eligible for best international or foreign language film at the Oscars. Category in which Spain was included with The Snow Societye by Juan Antonio Bayona. But what happened with the double nomination of the French feature film Anatomy of a fall, by Justine Triet, is nothing short of a rarity. The film was recognized in the categories of best script and director. That, after France did not send the film as a candidate for best foreign language film.
The feature film stars German actress Sandra Huller and has sentences in English, but 60% of its dialogues are in French. Which makes it eligible for the category. However, in a decision that seems to have more political than cultural ingredients, the French Oscar committee sent the film To simmer from director Trần Anh Hùng to the race. However, the work did not make it past the preselection. As curious as it may seem, it was then and independently, when Anatomy of a fallbecame part of the list of nominees for best film of the year in the Oscar selection.
The confusion opened the debate about what makes a film eligible or not for such a nomination. A debate that extends to what immediate requirements the work must meet. Especially, in a time when financing, production equipment and especially, the elements that surround the work, are not always of a single nationality. What makes the sector a process that begins in the country of origin of the production and ends with the analysis of its argument. Something that is not always simple and that, on occasions, has given rise to long debates on the subject.
The requirements of a complicated Oscar category
According to current standards of the Hollywood Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the nomination has a basic objective. That of allowing international works – or filmed outside the US and with resources outside the industry – to share the spotlight with national ones at the Oscars.
The criterion also intends that other languages, in addition to English and other ethnicities, beyond Western, be promoted through the awards. So the criteria are intended so that the works in contention have greater prominence based specifically on those points. Which implies three specific elements that are taken into account when choosing the possible nominees.
The language requirement
For a film to be eligible for best international film at the Oscars, at least half of the plot’s dialogue must be in a language other than English. The only exception is if this is the official language of the country. But in any other case, the requirement is that the majority of parliaments be developed in the official language of the nation of origin that sends the film to the contest.
Production requirement
The other essential requirement is that most of the production has financing from companies, companies or foundations that are not North American. It is also insisted — or at least encouraged — that most of the money come from companies whose headquarters are not in the US and have a relationship with the country of origin of the film.
Release time in theaters
Films that want to participate in the Oscar Awards must be projected in at least one public theater in the country of origin to which they belong. Also do it for seven days in a row, without this including festivals or private screenings. Which makes it clear that the films are part of the cinematographic offer and not shot directly to be nominated for the award.
The dilemma of a film that represents a country
In 2020, there were changes in the category, which became Best International Feature Film. But there were no changes in the processes that allow the different committees and organizations to present films as part of the possibility of nomination.
The basic rule states that an organization appointed by the government or state cultural associations will be in charge of choosing the work that will represent the country. Private organizations or foundations with grants belonging to organizations acting on their own behalf are not allowed to carry out the process. Both fiction, documentary and animated films are accepted for the category. However, only one film per country can be nominated.
Once the film is chosen by the respective committee, group or organization, it will be sent to the official selection. The Academy will choose ten films and take them to the Phase I International Feature Film Committee. It, in turn, chooses seven representatives from this group. Finally, it will be the Executive Committee of the International Feature Film Award that will select the other three films included in the list.