List of submissions to the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film every year since the award was created in 1956.cite web | title = History of the Academy Awards - Page 2| publisher = Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | url = http://www.oscars.org/aboutacademyawards/history02.html | accessdate = 2008-06-23] The award is handed out annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue.cite web | title = Special Rules for the Best Foreign Language Film Award | work = 81st Academy Awards Rules for Distinguished Achievements in 2008 | publisher = Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | url = http://www.oscars.org/81academyawards/rules/rule14.html | accessdate = 2008-08-23] The Foreign Language Film Award Committee oversees the process and reviews all the submitted films.

For the 81st Academy Awards, the Academy has invited 96 countries to submit films for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. [cite press release | title = 96 Countries to Receive Entry Forms for 2008 Foreign Language Film Oscar | publisher = Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | date = 2008-06-24 | url = http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2008/08.06.24.html | accessdate = 2008-08-23] Only one film is accepted from each country, and the deadline by which copies of all submitted films must be sent to the Academy has been set to 1 October 2008. Nominations will be announced on 22 January 2009, and the winner will be revealed during the awards ceremony that will be held on 22 February 2009. [cite web | title = General Timetable of the 81st Academy Awards | publisher = Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | url = http://www.oscars.org/81academyawards/timeline.html | accessdate = 2008-08-23]

The Middle Eastern kingdom of Jordan submitted a film for the first time. [cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/05/content_9800903.htm|title=Jordan has first film to compete for Oscar |last=|first=|coauthors|date=2008-09-05|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|accessdate=2008-09-27]

ubmissions

Countries listed below have already selected their submissions. This does not mean that the films automatically qualify for competition: the Academy has the final word on eligibility and has in the past disqualified several submissions.

The South Korean submission "Crossing" is embroiled in controversy as it has been accused of plagiarism. The Korean Film Council will select another submission if "Crossing" is found guilty when the issue comes to court.cite journal | last = Sunhee | first = Han | title = S. Korea picks "Crossing" for Oscars | journal = Variety | date = 2008-08-07 | url = http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=news&articleid=VR1117990204 | accessdate = 2008-08-23]

Not Submitting

BOL [cite web|url= http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/efe/20080927/ten-bolivia-no-presentara-candidatura-a-1e6a9ab.html
title= Bolivia no presentará candidatura a Óscar porque filmes no cumplen requisitos|last=|first=|coauthors|date=2008-09-27|publisher=Yahoo Espanol|accessdate=2008-09-30] and PUR [cite web|url=http://ar.news.yahoo.com/s/29092008/24/noticias-entretenimiento-puerto-rico-propondr-pel-cula-edici-n-scar.html
title= Puerto Rico no propondrá película para la edición de este año de los Óscar |last=|first=|coauthors|date=2008-09-29|publisher=Yahoo Argentina|accessdate=2008-09-30] , formally announced at the end of September that they would not be participating in this year's competition.

VIE's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched an open call for films to represent the country, but only received one entry - Vuong Duc's "Rừng đen" (Black Forest). On September 29th, the Ministry decided not to send any film since "Forest" did not meet Oscar requirements to have run one consecutive week in a commercial cinema. [cite web | title = Vietnam has no Oscar nominee | publisher = VietnamNet Bridge | url = http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2008/10/806444/ | accessdate = 2008-10-01]

Other Countries

Among the forty-odd other countries invited, only seven - Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, Indonesia, Lebanon, and Peru - have had films accepted to the competition five or more times in the last ten years. [ http://www.oscars.org/press/index.html "Press Releases" October 17, 2007, October 19, 2006, October 25, 2005, October 22, 2004, October 20, 2003, December 2, 2002, November 19, 2001, November 20, 2000, November 22, 1999, November 24, 1998 ]

ee also

*List of Academy Award winners and nominees for Best Foreign Language Film
*81st Academy Awards
*List of Academy Award-winning foreign language films

Notes

External links

* [http://www.oscar.com/ Official website of the Academy Awards]