Cinema Etemad – According to Isna, the deadline for countries to submit works to the Oscar Academy has ended and the Academy is reviewing the conditions of the nominated films to qualify for competition in the Best International Film category and will soon publish a list of eligible films.
Among the 88 countries that have sent their chosen films to the Academy, the films sent by China, Haiti, Jordan and Uruguay have been excluded from the international Oscar competition due to not meeting some initial conditions.
According to the latest forecast by Scott Feinberg, the senior analyst of the film awards season from The Hollywood Reporter, there are currently 6 films among the main chances of the 2025 international Oscars that have a distributor in the United States, and the rest are mostly still looking for a distributor in the United States.
The film “Emilia Perez” directed by Jacques Audiard, which represents French cinema, is at the top of the main chances of the international Oscar, the film that was unveiled in the main competition section of the Cannes festival, took home the prize of the jury and the best actress. The big Netflix company distributes this movie in America.
In second place is the film “I’m Still Here” by Walter Salas, nominated by Brazil for the Oscar, which was praised by critics and won the best screenplay award at the 81st Venice Film Festival. The big Sony company is the distributor of the movie “I’m still here” in America.
The Farsi-language film “The Fig Seed of the Temples” directed by Mohammad Rasuloff, which will represent Germany at the 2025 Oscars, won the Special Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival and will be released in America by Neon Pictures.
“Amand” by Halfdan Ullman Tundel, a representative of Norwegian cinema, was also unveiled in the Cannes Film Festival and won the Golden Camera Award for the best first film at the Cannes Film Festival. This film is also among the few international Oscar chances announced by the Hollywood Reporter, which will be released in America by “IFC Films”.
“Girl with a Needle” by Magnus Van Hoorn representing Denmark, which was one of the nominees for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, along with the documentary “Dahomey” (representing Senegal), which won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlin Film Festival, were both screened in America by the “Mubi” company. they become
Iran’s cinema also finds itself in the competition of the best international film category, while Iran’s selected film “In the Arms of the Tree” currently does not have a distributor in the United States; A score that can have a significant impact on the success of the film, especially in the field of international Oscar competition.
Previously, the films “Separation” and “Salesman” made by Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi were released in the United States by Sony and Amazon Studio, respectively, and the other film “Hero” by Farhadi, which was among the first 15 international Oscar nominees, was released in the United States by Amazon Studio. was offered
Having a reputable American distributor for a film, especially in the realm of international Oscar competition, can have a significant impact on the success of that film. American distributors have extensive distribution networks that allow them to easily get the film to more theaters and viewing networks in the United States and other countries, helping the film gain recognition among Academy members.
These established broadcasters also typically devote more budget and resources to advertising and marketing the film, including events, previews, and media campaigns that can generate positive interactions with critics and Oscar voters. They usually have the experience of reaching the Oscars and know what actions are effective to attract the attention of the voters. They can devise strategies for award campaigns that help attract voters.
On the other hand, a reputable distributor can add credibility to the film and differentiate it from other works. That credit could help the film stand out among Oscar voters.
A review of the Oscars in the category of the best international film, at least in the last few years, indicates that even in order to reach the list of 15 primary nominees in this category, the films often have two points: the unveiling at prestigious international festivals and the release in the United States.
This year, the Oscar committee of Iranian cinema has finally selected Babak Khajepasha’s “Embrace the Tree” as its official representative after reviewing several films. The film that was unveiled at the 41st Fajr Film Festival and won three awards for the best screenplay and the best first film. The international distribution of the movie “Embrace the Tree” is under the responsibility of the Surah International Center, but there is still no news about the possible release of the film in the United States.
Maral Bani Adam, Javad Qamati, Ruhollah Zamani, Ahura Lotfi, and Rayan Lotfi are the actors of “The Tree’s Hug”.