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The Oscars made some adjustments for the best category of international feature films.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges, both in viewing movies for awards and voting. To ensure that the integrity of the process remains intact, the International Preliminary Feature Film Committee will vote by secret ballot which will produce a shortlist of 15 films from different countries, up from the previous 10. In previous years, the preliminary vote would take place in person. This year, the process is expected to be conducted in a virtual environment, which has raised security concerns. Accordingly, the International Executive Committee will not meet to increase the vote with additional selections. The Council approved this change of governors at a recent meeting.
As of 2008, the voting system for the international feature film branch would take place in Los Angeles with representatives from PricewaterhouseCoopers revealing which films received the most votes in a closed-door meeting at the International Executive Committee. In heated debate, the committee would then select films to complete the shortlist, thus becoming known in the awards industry as “saves.” Films like “The Great Beauty” have long been the subject of rumors but have never been verified by the Academy as having been saved by the committee of years past. This process was adopted after Romania’s “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” failed to make it to the list of finalists in the 2007 film year.
The new rule change removes the “save,” and the top 15 films that receive the most votes will complete the list of finalists, which is due to be announced on February 9. This is expanded from the 10 films initially announced. This leaves no safety net to correct glaring omissions during the preliminary voting process.
Unlike other Oscar categories, Best International Feature does not have an Academy-specific branch. Various filmmakers from different disciplines sit on the executive committee which includes Susanne Bier and Larry Karaszewski. The International Feature Film Executive Committee is responsible for administering category rules and determining film eligibility.
Contestants are plentiful this year, which includes “Another Round” from Denmark, “Two of Us” from France and “I’m No Longer Here” from Mexico. Variety outlines some of the campaign challenges for filmmakers and strategists. “It gives more movies a fighting chance,” says one publicist. “But there are some amazing movies that are designed to be saved, and we just have to pray that those members who chose to watch as many submissions as possible.”
After 93 unofficial submissions in the Academy’s screening room, the members who have chosen to vote for the International Feature Film List will take place from February 1-5.
The 93rd Oscar nominations will be announced on March 15, with airing slated for April 25.
Visit THE AWARDS HUB to see the full list of nominees by category.
Oscars 2021 predictions
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