The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards showcased global cinema through an unprecedented volume of diverse submissions. Countries around the world selected one national representative to compete for the prestigious category, leading to a crowded field of ninety-two official entries. This selection process highlights how nations promote their cultural storytelling while navigating strict Academy guidelines regarding release dates, artistic control, and dialogue requirements.
Understanding this category requires looking past the final winner to examine how these national entries are chosen, which titles dominated the conversation, and why certain strong contenders failed to secure nominations. The 2023 race was particularly competitive, featuring historical dramas, intimate character studies, and box-office powerhouses from every corner of the globe.
The Selection Process and Rules
Every year, each participating country's designated film organization—often backed by government ministries or cultural institutes—chooses one domestic movie to submit. To qualify for the 95th Academy Awards (honoring films released in 2022), submissions had to meet specific eligibility windows, typically spanning from January 1 to November 30, 2022.
A core rule of the category is that the dialogue must be predominantly non-English. Countries can submit works in regional dialects, indigenous languages, or minoritized tongues, which frequently serves as a platform to preserve linguistic heritage on a global stage. Once submissions close, a specialized committee based in Los Angeles views all eligible entries to draft an initial shortlist of fifteen films, followed by a general branch vote to determine the final five nominees.
Major Contenders and Nominees
While ninety-two countries submitted entries, only a handful broke through the noise to secure nominations or critical acclaim. The final five nominees reflected a mix of technical mastery, historical trauma, and emotional resonance.
- Germany — All Quiet on the Western Front: Directed by Edward Berger, this gritty adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's classic novel dominated the international race. It eventually won the category alongside multiple other Academy Awards, leveraging intense battle sequences and stark anti-war themes.
- Argentina — Argentina, 1985: Directed by Santiago Mitre, this historical drama chronicled the brave prosecutors who brought Argentina's military junta to justice. It combined courtroom procedural elements with political tension.
- Belgium — Close: Directed by Lukas Dhont, this heartbreaking exploration of adolescent male friendship and societal pressure struck a deep emotional chord following its debut at the Cannes Film Festival.
- Poland — EO: Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, this visually arresting film followed the life of a donkey traveling across Europe, serving as a modern homage to Robert Bresson's classic Au Hasard Balthazar.
- Ireland — The Quiet Girl: Directed by Colm Bairéad, this delicate, Irish-language-dominant feature became a commercial and critical darling, tracking a young girl sent to live with foster parents in rural Ireland during the summer of 1981.
Notable Shortlisted Entries and Snubs
The fifteen-film shortlist featured several powerful titles that missed the final five cut but shaped the cinematic conversation. Denmark's entry, Holy Spider (directed by Ali Abbasi), tackled systemic misogyny through a dark thriller lens based on true events in Iran. South Korea submitted Park Chan-wook's romantic neo-noir mystery Decision to Leave, a critical favorite that many industry analysts expected to land a nomination.
Other notable submissions that competed for attention included France's Saint Omer (Alice Diop), Pakistan's groundbreaking submission Joyland (Saim Sadiq), and Morocco's The Blue Caftan (Maryam Touzani). Each of these films expanded the boundaries of what international cinema represents at the Academy Awards. You can explore the complete historical database of past winners directly on the Official Academy Awards Database.
Common Misconceptions About International Submissions
Audience members often misunderstand how countries pick their entries. A common myth is that the Academy chooses the films directly. In reality, Hollywood has no say in the national selection process; local committees make those choices entirely independently.
Another misconception involves language rules. While the category was historically known as Best Foreign Language Film, the Academy renamed it to Best International Feature Film to better reflect modern global production. Films can feature English dialogue as long as it does not constitute the majority of the spoken script. Furthermore, a director does not need to be a citizen of the submitting country, provided the creative control and financial backing align with national guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are allowed to submit a film each year?
Every recognized country or territory with an active film industry organization can submit one film annually. The total number fluctuates each year, generally hovering between 85 and 95 submissions.
Who pays for the campaign expenses of international submissions?
National film boards often subsidize initial submission costs, but serious Oscar campaigns require substantial funding for screeners, advertising, and Los Angeles screenings. Distributors who acquire the films in North America frequently step in to finance these intensive marketing pushes.
Can a film be disqualified after submission?
Yes. If a country's entry violates Academy rules regarding theatrical screening requirements, release windows, or the percentage of non-English dialogue, the Academy's executive committee can and will disqualify the film. For instance, technical violations have sidelined entries in past cycles.
What is the difference between the shortlist and the nominations?
The shortlist narrows the massive pool of global submissions down to fifteen contenders in December. Voting members from across the Academy branches then narrow that list of fifteen down to the final five official nominees announced in January.
Where can I stream these international feature films?
Availability depends heavily on regional distribution rights. Major streaming platforms like Netflix and specialized indie services such as MUBI or Criterion Channel frequently acquire streaming rights for shortlisted and nominated international features.
Best International Feature Film Nominees | 95th Oscars (2023)
This short video clip provides a quick visual reminder of the official nominees for the 95th Academy Awards Best International Feature Film category.
