Thursday, July 12---------The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has mailed out the entry forms for the Foreign Language Film competition to 95 countries, in preparation for the 80th Academy Awards. To qualify for the 2007 Awards, a film must be released in the submitting country between October 1, 2006, and September 30, 2007, and be publicly screened in 35mm or 70mm film or in a qualifying digital cinema format for at least seven consecutive days in a commercial motion picture theater. In most countries, select committees of industry professionals, filmmakers and critics are assembled to nominate the film that will represent its country in the Oscar race. When the films are co-productions (which most are these days) a determination must be made early in the process which country will be chosen as the main "country of origin" for a film. This can often be a contentious issue that must be resolved after various international meetings among co-production partners. Only one film per country can be considered (although foreign language films that have opened theatrically in the United States are eligible in the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, acting and technical award categories).

The dialogue track must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English. Accurate English subtitles are required. Entry forms and film prints must be received at the Academy offices by Monday, October 1, 2007. If the film is being released theatrically in the United States (which accounts for less than 2% of the overall film production made in any one year around the world), the film will have private press and industry screenings, generally handled by the US distributors and their appointed publicists.

ReceIving an Academy Award has tremendous box office implications for a foreign language film's career in North America. Last year's winner THE LIVES OF OTHERS, is still screening in theaters four months after its US opening in February and has grossed nearly $20 million, which is very handsome for a non-English language title. With the Oscars an important television event around the world, the exposure of winning an award on the telecast has huge box office implications on a global scale. The Academy Awards will next be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2008. Let the games begin.

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor