Asghar Farhadi’s Iranian drama A Hero and Denmark’s acclaimed animated documentary Flee, directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, about a Afghanistani refugee have made it to the next round of the Oscars Best International Feature Film race, with Flee remarkably also making the Best Documentary shortlist. Full nominations for the 94th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
The international selection left no room for France’s entry, Julia Ducournau’s transgressive drama Titane, which won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, while there was also no room for hotly tipped Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn from Romania.
The shortlist is heavily European, with the continent delivering 10 of the 15 films. Four of the European films are from Scandinavia, with Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland on the list; two of the shortlisted films were from the Americas, and three from Asia.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Austria, Great Freedom
Belgium, Playground
Bhutan, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
Denmark, Flee
Finland, Compartment No. 6
Germany, I’m Your Man
Iceland, Lamb
Iran, A Hero
Italy, The Hand of God
Japan, Drive My Car
Kosovo, Hive
Mexico, Prayers for the Stolen
Norway, The Worst Person in the World
Panama, Plaza Catedral
Spain, The Good Boss
Fifteen films will advance in the Documentary Feature category for the 94th Academy Awards. One hundred thirty-eight films were eligible in the category. Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:
Ascension
Attica
Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry
Faya Dayi
The First Wave
Flee
In the Same Breath
Julia
President
Procession
The Rescue
Simple as Water
In addition, Tala’vision by Jordanian filmmaker Murad Abu Eisheh, appears in the live action short film category. Arab story, A Broken House is shortlisted for best documentary short subject category. Directed by Jimmy Goldblum, the film is about Syrian artist, Mohamad Hafez, who, after receiving a single-entry visa to study architecture in the US, realises he cannot return home.
