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Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2014 submissions (photo: Ziyi Zhang in ‘The Grandmaster’) (See previous post: Best Foreign Language Film Oscar: ‘The Past,’ ‘Wadjda,’ Andrzej Wajda Among Omissions) In case you missed it, here’s the full list of submissions (in alphabetical order, per country) for the 2014 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. The list of contenders was originally announced on October 7, 2013. Of note: Saudi Arabia and Moldova were first-timers; Montenegro was a first-timer as an independent country. Afghanistan, Wajma — An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram, director; Albania, Agon, Robert Budina, director; Argentina, The German Doctor, Lucía Puenzo, director; Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt, director; Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler, director; Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev, director; Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director; Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen, director; Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanovic, director; Brazil, Neighboring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho,...

All God's Children, Moldova's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. :None Yet. International Sales Agent: Artis Film

Located deep in the heart of Eastern Europe is Moldova, the continent’s poorest country. Landlocked between Romania and Ukraine the small troubled nation is afflicted by rampant corruption, separatist groups, and widespread unemployment. Combined, all of these unfortunate factors create the perfect playground for criminal organizations to thrive. Particularly prominent in this part of the world are the atrocities related to human trafficking in its many forms. Prostitution, child pornography, and organ harvesting have become profitable illegal industries due to the social decay and colluded authorities. Cleverly taking into account all the elements that form part of the notoriously problematic state of the country, Romanian-born director Adrian Popovici ’s latest feature All God's Children offers an intricate look at often overlooked issues not only in Moldova but across the globe.

Following several stories that intersect via innocent Pavalas (Emergian Cazac), a young boy living in an orphanage, the film dissects the different plans the adult characters have for him. His mother, Irina (Ina Surdu), left him behind when coerced into sexual slavery in Italy. After escaping her captors she returns to Moldova to presumably sell the boy to whoever will adopt him and pay her pimp enough money to regain her freedom. Irina recruits her friend Tatiana (Rodica Oanta), also forced into the prostitution business, and together they embark on a trip to Chisinau, the capital, to find Pavalas. Desperate to return to his mother, the abandoned child takes to the streets with a picture and asks if anyone has seen her. During his search he meets warm and loving Alina (Alina Turcanu) and her Canadian husband Peter (Michael Ironside), who immediately show interest in the boy as he reminds them of their own deceased son.

Adding to their already complex situation, the two women must cross through the communist breakaway state of Transnistria in order reach the city. There, they accidentally get involved in the suicide of a defecting soldier, an incident that delays their trip. Meanwhile, Bruno (Paolo Seganti), their ruthless Italian victimizer, arrives in Moldova looking to punish them. However, when Irina reveals her intentions, he exhorts her to see it through and give him his cut or he will find other uses for the boy in the black market.

On the other hand, after growing fond of the kid, Alina and Peter decide to adopt him, but they soon get caught up in the dishonest bureaucracy. Upon Irina’s return, Pavalas overhears his mother’s intent to give him up and decides to run way. With Peter now being helped by Interpol and heartless Bruno deranged with greed, what ensues is a race to find him involving all parties, in which the collateral damage will be devastating.

At the core of this denouncing drama is Pavalas, who serves as driving force for the plot, but whose destiny is in the hands of others. He has an honest heart, and in spite of the repeated neglect he remains loyal to his mother. Played with enchanting naturalism by first-time young actor Emergian Cazac, the character represents a state of purity that everyone is born into, but which gets contaminated by the way of the world. Depraved of better opportunities and tormented by extreme poverty, the citizens here must identify dishonesty and bribery as survival skills to make ends meet. Therefore, this creates a vicious circle for which the impoverished people cannot be blamed, and in which the wicked criminals revel.

Even with its noticeable imperfections, the film carries a powerful emotional resonance that is impossible to ignore. In a single audiovisual work, the director allows the viewer to see a land that has been wrongly forgotten and let to suffer by the West. It highlights the spirit of the Moldovan people while condemning the corrupt system, subtly demanding change for a population that deserves better.

Although concerned with the horrors of human trafficking the story revolves around the noble idea that, as the title implies, all human beings should get a chance at being happy. In a place that is incapable of providing such opportunity, this child becomes a symbol of hope and of the innocence that must be protected. Not only is this piece Moldova’s first ever submission for the Academy Awards, but also the country’s largest cinematic effort in its recent history. Furthermore, Popovici’s All God’s Children is an admirable and important accomplishment. Skillfully written and heartfelt, its mere existence constitutes a small miracle.

Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its shortlist for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar — totaling a not-so-short 76 submitted films.

The number, up from 71 films last year, sets a new record for the category and includes frontrunners such as Asghar Farhadi’s The Past from Iran, Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt from Denmark, and Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster from Hong Kong. Abdellatif Kechiche’s festival favorite lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Color from France, however, failed to make the cut-off date for eligibility, while India controversially submitted Gyan Correa’s The Good Road over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.

The Academy officially announced today that a record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 2014 Oscars. Among those submitting, Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants and this is the first time Montenegro has submitted a film as an independent country. Based solely on name recognition alone I'd say Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt (Denmark) and Asghar Farhadi's The Past (Iran) will be looked at as front-runners. However, I haven't only seen a few of the titles on this list, another of which is Mexico's entry, Heli from Amat Escalante. I have heard good things about Borgman (Netherlands) and it will be interesting to see how Haifaa al-Mansour's Wadjda is treated as it is a story unto itself, not to mention it seems to be receiving high marks from those that have seen it. I'm personally hoping to catch it soon...

A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the foreign language film category for the 86th Academy Awards.

Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.

Earlier this year the Academy changed its rule allowing all voting members to vote on the shortlist.

The nominations will be announced on January 16 2014 and the Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The 2013 submissions are:

Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram

Albania, Agon, Robert Budina

Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo

Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt

Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler

Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev

Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen

Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović

Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho

Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov

Cambodia...

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has released the list of the 76 countries and their submissions officially competing for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar.

Amongst the high profile entries this year are Australia's "The Rocket," Denmark's "The Hunt," France's "Renoir," Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," Iran's "The Past," and Saudi Arabia's "Wadjda".

The nominations will be announced on January 16th 2014 ahead of the ceremony on March 2nd. Here is the complete list:

Afghanistan, "Wajma – An Afghan Love Story," Barmak Akram

Albania, "Agon," Robert Budina

Argentina, "The German Doctor," Lucía Puenzo

Australia, "The Rocket," Kim Mordaunt

Austria, "The Wall," Julian Pölsler

Azerbaijan, "Steppe Man," Shamil Aliyev

Bangladesh, "Television," Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Belgium, "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Felix van Groeningen

Bosnia and Herzegovina, "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker," Danis Tanovic

Brazil, "Neighboring Sounds," Kleber Mendonça Filho

Bulgaria, "The Color of the Chameleon," Emil Hristov

Cambodia, "The Missing Picture,...

A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 86th Academy Awards®.

Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants; Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.

The 2013 submissions are:

Afghanistan, “Wajma – An Afghan Love Story,” Barmak Akram, director;

Albania, “Agon,” Robert Budina, director;

Argentina, “The German Doctor,” Lucía Puenzo, director;

Australia, “The Rocket,” Kim Mordaunt, director;

Austria, “The Wall,” Julian Pölsler, director;

Azerbaijan, “Steppe Man,” Shamil Aliyev, director;

Bangladesh, “Television,” Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director;

Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director;

Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director;

Brazil, “Neighboring Sounds,” Kleber Mendonça Filho, director;

Bulgaria, “The Color of the Chameleon,” Emil Hristov, director;

Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director;

Canada, “Gabrielle,” Louise Archambault, director;

Chad, “GriGris,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director;

Chile, “Gloria,” Sebastián Lelio, director;

China, “Back to 1942,” Feng Xiaogang,...

All entries for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the Academy Awards 2014.

Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.

Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.

An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.

Submissions

Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram

Albania, Agon, Robert Budina

Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo

Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt

Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler

Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev

Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen

Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović

Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho

Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov

Cambodia...

Adrian Popovici is currently in the post-production phase on his latest project. Pegged with an October 2011 release, Looking for a Mother (original title: Se cauta o mama) was shot in August of this year in Moldova and now it’s in the beginning stages of post-prod. Written by Valeriu Ţurcanu and Pascal Ilie Virgil, this is produced by ArtisFilm, from Romania, Moldova Film and Diametral-Film, from Moldova. The cast features B-actor cast of Michael Ironside (Top Gun), Paolo Seganti (L.A. Confidential, C.S.I.: Miami), Vas Blackwood (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and a few actors from Moldova: Energian Cazac, Ina Surdu, Alina Lungu Ţurcanu. Popovici’s film tells the story of Păvălaş (Energian Cazac), a 9-year-old boy whose mother, Irina, wants to sell him so she can escape from a mafia group led by Bruno (Paolo Seganti), which forces her to prostitutes. Irina wants to start...