Oscars Shortlist: 93 Countries and 93 Films in contention for Best International Feature at 95th Academy Awards

Next week, the shortlists for several Oscar categories will be announced, among them the International Feature category. So, I dove into the 93 films submitted and sorted out a few that have the best chance of landing a nomination. A few movies have been winning awards all over the place, a few have some big-time actors and directors lifting them, and a few of them I have seen and were some of the most memorable films of the year. I have sorted them into tiers, with the ones I think have the best chance listed first.

The Academy, and let’s face it, the world, has been opening up to Korean cinema as of late. “Parasite” won Best Picture not that long ago, so it seems likely that “Decision to Leave,” which has been getting tons of buzz, will land a nomination. I’m shocked director Park Chan-Wook has never received a nomination before, having directed films like “Oldboy” and “The Handmaiden.”

Although I don’t know much about these three, I’ve seen them pop up all over the awards season, and they all seem like films that the Academy could easily champion. “All Quiet on the Western Front” looks like the type of film that typically makes the final cut regarding the five nominees. It made the National Board of Review’s list of Best International films and has been raved about by critics. “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” is from beloved director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, which could get a nomination in and of itself. And “Corsage” stars Vicky Krieps and is nominated for the Independent Spirit and Satellite Awards.

My one pick from the heart in this tier is “Last Film Show,” one of my favorite films last year. Getting the submission from India over the much more beloved “RRR,” I feel it has a chance of winning over the Academy as it did me and earning the nomination. For one thing, it’s about a young Indian boy’s love of movies. And the Academy tends to gravitate towards movies about movies. It’s also just a heartfelt film that floored me. It has not received any other nominations or raves, but I believe in this movie and hope it gets a nomination.

“Girl Picture” is one of my favorite films this year and also seems right up the Academy’s alley. It’s got impressive performances, and despite not being recognized for anything yet, I could also see the passion I found for this film coming from some Academy voters. “Bantú Mama,” “Utama,” and “You Won’t Be Alone” are all films I’ve seen in film festivals this year, and they all left a lasting impression on me. I could easily see them doing the same for others, especially in “You Won’t Be Alone,” which stars Noomi Rapace. “Holy Spider” is another film I keep seeing pop up this awards season. It started with a nomination for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and now has European Film and Satellite Awards nominations to add to that.

“Argentina, 1985,” “EO,” “Return to Seoul,” and “The Quiet Girl” have all been either winning awards this season or nominated for them. “Argentina, 1985” won the National Board of Review’s Freedom of Expression Award and was nominated for the Satellite, Golden Globe, and Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. “EO” won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, landed on the National Board of Review’s top five international films list, and has won several critics’ awards for Best International Film, so it seems to be a fan favorite. “Return to Seoul” was given top honors by the Boston Society of Film Critics as the Best Film of the Year. And “The Quiet Girl” just won top awards from the Dublin Film Critics Circle. “Klondike” was a film I viewed during the Sundance Film Festival, and it, too, left an impression.

“Close” won the Grand Prix Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The National Board of Review awarded it the Best Foreign Language Film of the year, and several critics circles nominated it, including the Golden Globe Awards. “Mars One” was another great film I viewed during Sundance. “Eternal Spring” feels like “Flee” from last year, a documentary presented as an animation, and “Saint Omer” won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and also landed on the National Board of Review’s Top International films list. “Joyland” won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes and was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.