2024 Oscars: Europe’s Stronghold in Best International Feature Film
The Academy Awards‘ best international feature film category has recently favored European films, with four out of five nominations coming from Europe in the past two years. It has also seen wins from the UK’s The Zone Of Interest in 2024 and Germany’s All Quiet On The Western Front in 2023.
Historically, European films have dominated this category, winning 59 of the 76 awards since 1948 when it was known as best foreign-language film. The Bafta awards also reflect this trend, with European winners for 14 of the past 20 years.
For the 2024 Oscars, Europe leads with 36 submissions. Notably, Russia has not submitted a film for the third consecutive year due to its cultural isolation after the invasion of Ukraine. This year, many countries are submitting films shot in languages other than their own.
France’s entry, Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard, is a musical set in Mexico and primarily in Spanish. It premiered at Cannes, winning the jury prize and a shared best actress award for its ensemble cast. France has not won in this category since Indochine in 1993.
Germany has chosen The Seed Of The Sacred Fig by Mohammad Rasoulof, a Persian-language film co-produced in Germany and France. The story follows an investigator working for the Iranian regime.
The UK submitted Santosh, a Hindi-language crime thriller about a widowed woman stepping into her late husband’s police job. This co-production includes UK, France, and India.
Portugal’s entry is Grand Tour, a black-and-white film by Miguel Gomes set in 1917 about a runaway bride. Despite its international setting, the film is largely in Portuguese and aims to break Portugal’s long streak without an Oscar nomination.
Ireland’s submission is Kneecap, a biopic of the Irish rap trio that advocates for their language. This film won an audience award at Sundance, enhancing Ireland’s visibility since its last nomination in 2023.
Denmark presents The Girl With The Needle, based on true events of a woman who committed infanticide in Copenhagen. Denmark has won the category four times, with its most recent win for Another Round in 2021.
Romania offers Three Kilometres To The End Of The World, a drama about a gay teen facing violence in a conservative community. It won the Queer Palm at Cannes this year.
Belgium debuts with Julie Keeps Quiet, which explores themes of family and isolation. It has won acclaim at various film festivals.
Italy’s entry, Vermiglio, set in 1944, follows a soldier’s impact on a village teacher. Italy has won the Oscar in this category 14 times, most recently for The Great Beauty in 2014.
Iceland features Touch, a romantic drama about a man searching for his long-lost love. It has had limited success at the Oscars historically.
Austria brings The Devil’s Bath, a thriller about a woman’s violent act in 1750. Austria has won this category twice in the past.
The Czech Republic’s Waves deals with journalists during the Soviet invasion, while Lithuania’s Drowning Dry handles family dynamics after an accident.
Switzerland’s Queens portrays life in 1990s Peru, while Spain’s Saturn Return draws inspiration from indie rock. Bulgaria’s Triumph is based on a true story involving psychic phenomena.
Ukraine’s debut feature La Palisiada follows friends investigating a colleague’s murder set shortly before the death penalty suspension. Similarly, Poland’s Under The Volcano revolves around a family’s struggle to return home amid conflict.
Sweden’s The Last Journey is a road movie documentary, while the Netherlands’ Memory Lane tells a poignant story of an elderly couple.
In summary, Europe showcases a diverse range of narratives and styles among its submissions, reflecting its rich cinematic tradition and ability to engage with contemporary themes.