The Oscars have made some adjustments to the best international feature category.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges, both in watching the films for awards and voices. To ensure that the integrity of the process remains intact, the International Provisional Film Committee will vote through a secret ballot that will yield a shortlist of 15 films from different countries, compared to the previous 10. In previous years, the provisional vote would takes place in person. This year, the process must be conducted in a virtual environment, which poses security issues. As a result, the International Executive Committee will not meet to increase the vote with additional choices. The Council approved this change of Governors at a recent meeting.
Since 2008, the voting system of the international subsidiary in Los Angeles would take place with representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers announcing the films that received the most votes during a closed meeting to the International Executive Committee. In an enthusiastic debate, the committee then selects films to complete the shortlist and becomes known in the awards industry as the “save.” There have long been rumors about movies like “The Great Beauty,” but academia has never confirmed that it was rescued by the committee years ago. This process was accepted after Romania’s “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” did not make the shortlist during the 2007 film year.
The new rule change removes the “save” and the top 15 films that receive the most votes will complete the shortlist, which will be announced on February 9th. It is expanded from the originally announced 10 films. This leaves no safety net to correct conspicuous omissions during the preliminary voting process.
Unlike other Oscar categories, the best international feature does not have an academic branch. Several filmmakers from different disciplines serve on the executive committee which includes Susanne Bier and Larry Karaszewski. The executive committee for international functions is responsible for administering category rules and determining the suitability of a film.
The contestants are plentiful this year, which includes Denmark’s “Another Round”, France’s “Two of Us” and Mexico’s “I’m No Longer Here”. Variety reported on some of the campaign challenges by the filmmakers and strategists. “It gives more movies a chance to fight,” says one award-winning expert. “But there are incredible films built to be saved, and we just have to pray that the members who voted should see as many of the submissions as possible.”
After an unofficial record of 93 submissions in the Academy Hall, members who voted to vote for the international shortlist will take place on 1-5 February.
The 93rd nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced on March 15, with the broadcast scheduled for April 25.