THE Academy has announced its shortlist for 10 Oscar categories in the 95th Academy Awards that will take place March 12, 2023.
Over the past decade, award shows have been struggling to gain a foothold following the wider cultural shift that is taking place worldwide. However, this year’s international categories are beginning to reflect a more diverse selection after changes were made to the Oscar membership pool.
Close to half of the 15 international feature film categories comes from outside Europe, including four from Asia, two from Latin America and one from Africa.
Pakistan makes a first apperance with Joyland; a film that was initially banned due to containing references to queer identity and people before the government reversed the measure and agreed to a release with unspecified cuts.
The shortlist also contains all the popular titles that have made waves in international film circuits including France’s Saint Omer, Austria’s Corsage, Denmark’s Holy Spider, Argentina’s Argentina, 1985, Belgium’s Close, South Korea’s Decision To Leave, and Mexico’s Bardo.
Some notable first appearances from countries to make it this far after some time are India with Last Film Show (Lagaan was the last shortlisted film in 2001), Morocco with The Blue Caftan (Omar Killed Me, 2011), Cambodia with Return To Seoul (The Missing Picture, 2013), Ireland with The Quiet Girl (Viva in 2015), and Argentina with Argentina,1985 (Wild Tales in 2014).
Three shortlisted films in the category are directed by women: Alice Diop with France’s Saint Omer, Marie Kreutzer with Austria’s Corsage, and Maryam Touzani with Morocco’s The Blue Caftan.
Mexico’s Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu makes the list for the third time with Bardo, after Biutiful in 2010 and Amores Perros in 2000. Germany’s All Quiet On The Western Front was named in five of the shortlists.
In the documentary feature film category eight of the 15 selections are directed by women including this year’s Venice Golden Lion winner All The Beauty And The Bloodshed, while four are directed by people of colour.
Voting Academy members based outside of the United States account for approximately 22% of the body’s membership of around 10,000. Voting for the final set of nominees runs from January 12 to 17, 2023.
Final nominations will be announced on January 24 and the show takes place in Hollywood on March 12, 2023. – The Vibes, December 23, 2022
