Variety
reports that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has
finalised films submitted by Chile, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Lebanon,
Russia, Senegal, South Africa and Sweden.
The competitors are:
A Fantastic Woman (Chile)
In the Fade (Germany)
On Body and Soul (Hungary)
Foxtrot (Israel)
The Insult (Lebanon)
Loveless (Russia)
Félicité (Senegal)
The Wound (South Africa)
The Square (Sweden)
High-profile films like Angelina Jolie's First They Killed My father and Robin Campillo's prize-winning BPM (Beats Per Minute) have been omitted from the race. BPM's awards include the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.
Pakistan had submitted Farhan Alam's Saawan for Oscar consideration this year.
Saawan, based on the true story of a disabled
child, has gotten much critical acclaim. The film has earned awards like
'Best Foreign Language Feature Film' at the Madrid International Film
Festival 2017, Best Film and Best Director at the Social World Film
Festival 2017 in Italy and Best Foreign Film award at the Alexandria
Film Festival in Virginia, USA. Looks like Pakistan will have to up its
game even more next year!
The final five nominations will be revealed alongside all other Oscar nominations on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.