Global Politics Takes Leading Role in Oscars International Feature Race – Screen Podcast | News

This year’s international feature race raises some “big questions for the academy,” according to awards experts at Screen International.

In our second Screen Awards podcast for the 2024/25 race: Screenis editor-in-chief Matt Müller, Editor-in-chief, reviews and new talent Fionnuala Halliganand awards and box office editor Charles Gant Reviews the titles competing in the Ampas International Feature and BAFTA Best Film categories in the non-English language categories.

Strong contenders include films “that represent countries that don’t necessarily reflect their own cultures or experiences,” Mueller says, including Spanish-language musicals Emilia Perez Selected by France, UK submission Santosha Hindi-language drama set in rural India, and The seed of the holy figfilmed and set in Iran, but is competing for Germany after director Mohammad Rasoulof was forced to flee his home country.

“Of course Iran wouldn’t nominate a film like this,” says Halligan, “and that calls into question all the anomalies we see at the Oscars in the international film section… it actually affects the credibility (of the category) . ): is it fair, is it equal?”

The trio also look at other titles from around the world vying to make it onto Ampas’ 15-strong international feature film shortlist, to be announced on December 17, as well as the titles featured in Bafta’s best film , which is not in the English language category, could do well.

Listen to our first podcast of the season, introducing the early frontrunners. Here.

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