Academy Award Predictions: International Feature Film

As stated in my previous predictions, International Feature is one of the hardest categories to predict way an advance due to the long winded submission phases. We now know what films have been submitted by the International film industries and this has lead to the biggest shake up amongst my predictions across all categories. The major talking point of the submissions, is that potential Best Picture nominee, “Anatomy of a Fall”, has not been submitted by France. Instead they have chosen to nominate “The Taste of Things”, much to everyone’s surprise. France have a track record for this sort of thing, most notably in 2019 when the submitted “Les Misérables” over the much beloved “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”.

One country that had several films to choose from this year was Japan, and I was unsure as to which of their possible choices they would ultimately submit. Japan has gone with the Wim Wenders film “Perfect Days”, a film which is also a German co-production, and many, including myself, thought would be Germany’s submission for 2024, not Japan. This sees acclaimed films “Monster” and Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” out of the race, but placing Perfect Days as one of the favourites.

With several awards contenders not being submitted by their country, there is a clear path for Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” to take home the statuette. The holocaust drama has received universal critical acclaim and even has an outside chance to bag a Best Picture nomination, making it the frontrunner at this stage in awards season.

Strong Contenders

1. The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom) (↑1)
2. Perfect Days (Japan) (↑2)
3. The Taste of Things (France) (NEW)
4. Fallen Leaves (Finland) (↑5)
5. The Teacher’s Lounge (Germany) (NEW)

Possible Contenders

1. Four Daughters (Tunisia)
2. Society of the Snow (Spain) (NEW)
3. About Dry Grasses (Turkey)
4. Io capitano (Italy) (NEW)
5. 20 Days in Mariupol (Ukraine) (NEW)

Outsiders

1. The Promised Land (Denmark) (NEW)
2. The Settlers (Chile) (NEW)
3. The Peasants (Poland) (NEW)
4. Shayda (Australia) (NEW)
5. Godland (Iceland) (NEW)