SAN FRANCISCO: Fifteen films from Germany, Finland, Ukraine, Britain and elsewhere are on the shortlist for the 2024 Oscar in the category of “International Feature Film” unveiled on Thursday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles.
Among the shortlisted finalists are the German film ‘Das Lehrerzimmer’ (The Teachers’ Lounge) by director Ilker Çatak as well as ‘Perfect Days’ by fellow German director Wim Wenders, said German news agency (dpa).
Wenders’ film, which was shot in Tokyo, is in the Oscar running representing Japan.
A total of 88 countries submitted films for the category.
In addition to Germany and Japan, countries such as Finland (‘Falling Leaves’), France (‘The Taste of Things’), Italy (‘Io Capitano’), Great Britain (‘The Zone of Interest’), Spain (‘Society of the Snow’) and Ukraine (‘20 Days in Mariupol’) are also represented.
Wenders, 78, called it “an honour to represent the country of Yasujiro Ozu, Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and so many more greats,” naming acclaimed Japanese directors. He also thanked his “wonderful” lead actor Koji Yakusho.
Wenders has already been nominated for an Oscar three times: in 2000 with the musical documentary ‘Buena Vista Social Club’, in 2012 with the dance film ‘Pina’ about Pina Bausch and in 2015 with the documentary ‘The Salt of the Earth’ about the Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado.
‘Perfect Days’ is set in Tokyo and tells the story of a man named Hirayama (Koji Yakusho) who works as a toilet cleaner, seems content with his simple life and lives very much in the moment.
From the shortlist of 15 candidates, five films will be nominated for the final round on Jan 23. The Oscars are scheduled to be awarded in a televised event in Los Angeles in March. The ceremony is scheduled to be hosted by US comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the award show in 2023 and also in 2017 and 2018. – BERNAMA-dpa
