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While Canadians are days away from hitting the polls to determine the next government, Chloé Robichaud, the filmmaker who broke out with her Cannes Un Certain Regard selected Sarah Prefers to Run is trading the athletic podium for….the political one. Among the new generation of French Canadian female filmmakers, her sophomore effort entitled Pays has its cast in place and is ready to roll. First-timer Nathalie Doummar is joined by Macha Grenon, Yves Jacques, Rémy Girard and Alexandre Landry (Louise Archambault’s Gabrielle) are among those to join the project. To be readied for 2016, the pic is produced by La Boîte à Fanny’s Fanny-Laure Malo (Sarah préfère la course), Item 7’s Pierre Even et Marie-Claude Poulin (Brooklyn) and Morag Loves Company’s Barbara Doran (The Grand Seduction).

Gist: Not imagining herself as a candidate in the federal election, 25 year-old Félixe (Nathalie Doummar) has more difficulty coming to terms after winning her riding.

Tiff may be a showcase for cinema from around the world, but it’s also an exhibition place to show off our homegrown talent to the rest of the world.

At the Toronto International Film Festival’s Canadian press conference, the festival programmers unveiled the impressive line-up of Canadian films as well as the Canucks who are the ones to watch in their Rising Star programme.

In its fourth year, the Tiff Rising Stars programme recognizing emerging Canadian talent who are charting their own trajectory within Canadian cinema and beyond. Past Rising Stars have included Sarah Gadon, Megan Park, andTatiana Maslany.

This year’s crop of new talent includes Sophie Desmarais who you may have seen as a young track star in last year’s festival pick Sarah Prefers to Run (Sarah préfère la course) and Shannon Kook who appeared in a supporting role inThe Conjuring and next appears in...

The luxurious banquet hall in Toronto’s Royal York hotel was electric with excitement as Tiff senior programmers including Steve Gravestock and Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo announced the robust lineup of Canadian films (several world preems) at this year’s Tiff plus the 40+ short titles (out of an astounding 840 short films — an increase of over 200 titles from last year) that will screen at the prestigious festival. With features populating almost every section at the fest, among the headliner items from English Canada, Cairo Time‘s Ruba Nadda returns to the fest with October Gale, while also world preeming is Bang Bang Baby — Jeffrey St. Jules marks his feature film debut with a film that is equal parts Rocky Horror Picture Show and early Cronenberg. Starring Jane Levy of the recent About Alex, it revolves around a small-town teenager in the ’60s whose dream of becoming a famous singer is dashed...

Gabrielle, Canada's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : Entertainment One Films U.S. International Sales Agent: Entertainment One Films International

Québécoise filmmaker Louise Archambault's sophomore feature Gabrielle is an incredibly touching film that radiates joy and presents a singularly honest take on the subject of mentally challenged individuals. Committed to portray these individuals in the most realistic manner she cast non-professional actors from the very center where the film takes place, by doing this she gave these talented, but often dismissed people a chance to be seen as self-sufficient and capable. Furthermore, Archambault's film is definitely about love, a feeling often thought too complex for people born with certain syndromes or handicaps, but in her story, she exalts their ability to love and be loved in the purest way possible. The director talked to us about the challenges during the casting process, the chemistry between the protagonists Gabrielle Marion-Rivard and Alexandre Landry, and the touchy issues surrounding her decision of showing her characters' sensual desires for one another.

Read the Review for Gabrielle Here

Carlos Aguilar: How did you develop this idea for the film? Did anyone in your life inspire you particularly to make a film about this subject matter?

Louise Archambault: It would be a long answer but to make it short, because it’s a really long process, I guess I wanted to talk about happiness and outcast people, invisibles. The first woman who inspired me was in my neighborhood; she is more mentally challenged than what we see in the film. We used to swim in the same public pool. In the changing room she always had someone assisting her. She had a strong personality, she never wanted to put on her bathing cap on. She yelled, and she made people uneasy. Once in the water she would just float and sing really well. It was so beautiful, but people felt uneasy with it still. At the same time I became acquainted with that organization Young Musicians of the World, which I really shot in India. One French woman founded that school for deprived children, and it specializes in music. For a long time, half of my script happened in India, and the sister was already there, but it was huge and very expensive for a second feature, so at some point I just cut it in half and focused on one thing. Music and choir singing came instantly in the equation, then a lot of people inspired me.

Aguilar: Was the casting process trickier for this film in particular than for other projects you have worked on? How did you go about choosing the members of the choir?

Archambault: Yeah. For sure I had the wish of making a film with mentally challenged people, and not only on them. At some point I became acquainted with that center called Les Muses. That’s where Gabrielle has singing classes. They do theater, singing, and dance and they want for their students to work professionally ideally. A lot of people in the film came from there. I created a choir for the film, some of them I chose because of their singing and some because they have great personalities. For all the non-professional actors I knew I wanted to keep their real first name so I could improvise during the shoot. Like Gabrielle, I didn’t know if she could do the par. She was not an actress, but she is a good singer, and she has a magical presence. For a year I worked with her, in her syndrome she has a trait that is called theatrical behavior so she is very expressive. But in film, it could look false and not good, and I didn’t want that, so I had to find a way to work with that. I had to forget perfection, let go, and know them well so their personality would come out, and their strength would come out. The other professional actors, are also good, but above all they are very human, they are not into their ego. Everyday was about finding solutions because things didn’t necessarily worked out, but everybody was so involved in the film and worked hard. Gabrielle worked hard, she wanted to. I just wanted to get the best out of them.

Aguilar: Speaking of acting, how difficult was it to portray the relationship between Gabrielle and Martin and finding the right chemistry?

Archambault: First, Martin (Alexandre Landry) he is a professional actor. He won three prizes in festivals already. I did audition some mentally challenged actors for the part, super good actors, but the love chemistry didn’t work out. At some point one actor stopped and looked at me and said “I really want a part in your film. I really want to be an actor, but I cannot fall in love with her, it doesn’t work” [Laughs]. Then Alexandre came and auditioned, and he is a very gifted actor, but I also think he is a very special guy. He never judges, he is very curious of people and very generous, and that helped a lot. When he met Gabrielle, they were giggling, and it was something else. He was intimidated because he is not a singer. Yes, these are mentally challenged people, but they are good singers. But eventually Alexandre felt part of them, he asked a lot of questions and Gabrielle helped him. She gave him techniques. I think they developed like a brother/sister relationship, very strong. It was special because Gabrielle had never made love in her life, so how do you act that if you don't know? [Laughs] So it was special.

Aguilar: This is a very special coming-of-age story, you don’t portray these individuals in a patronizing way. They are presented as complex and self-sufficient individuals. They have talents and dreams. Was this something you wanted to explore from the beginning?

Archambault: Absolutely, I didn’t want to go into “miserablism”, it’s a feel-good, but I didn’t want to go too sugary either. If I would have taken only actors and all of it was make-believe, I’m not sure the feeling would be the same. I knew I wanted to be in the frontier of fiction film, it’s scripted, but the way it’s done is very documentary-oriented. When I shot the dance scene, it was a real dance, and they were real people who were there in their real world. The combination of both reality and fiction adds - at least for those characters, I’m not saying all challenged people are like that - more realism. It is a delicate subject, but I didn’t want to suck it down emotionally, so there is singing, and I think a lot of people can relate. It is a love story with challenges. It’s a film about love. That’s it.

Aguilar: Most films about mentally challenged people never delve into their sexual desires. Did you ever feel that portraying that was a bit risqué or touchy?

Archambault: We talked a lot about that with the producer and investors, “To what extent can I go? Can I go that far or not?” I had Gabrielle as well, and I had to abide by her limits as well. I wanted to give it sensuality, like you mentioned, it is a coming-of-age story. At the beginning she is a child and at the end she is a woman. That’s what I wanted to say, and I wanted something very sensual, it is like pure love, like the first time, but a beautiful first time.

Aguilar: How did you develop the other characters, the “normal” people who sometimes seem to have more issues with the mentally challenged people's limitations than themselves?

Archambault: Gabrielle’s sister Sophie (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin), for examples, she wants to go to India, but she can’t because Gabrielle is trying to live out her independence and she rebels. They have to let go, because if they continue to be too connected they will not live their own lives. Maybe if they trust each other and let go, it would help them have a better relationship later on between them.

The mothers are only in about 3 scenes, so I had to be very efficient. Martin’s mother, I think she forgot herself at some point because she wanted the best for her son. She doesn’t know better, she would love for him to have a “normal” girlfriend. Hopefully at some point she will open her perception. I say to myself “I hope that character falls in love after the film and has her own life.” The other one [Gabrielle’s mother], she couldn’t let go of her job. She doesn’t have a husband, at some point Sophie left and she has Gabrielle, what can she do? Should she leave her job to take care of Gabrielle? It makes no sense. Therefore, she chose the best place for Gabrielle, maybe she should visit her more, but then again we all have issues like that in our families. We are all imperfect, but Gabrielle has to develop from that and be resilient, her mother loves her, not perfectly, but she still can have a great life.

Aguilar: Did your cast get to see the film after it was done? How did they react?

Archambault: It was very touching. During the premier in Montreal in September the crew, the cast, and their families were there. They are the real inspiration for the film. The parents, and the people from the organizations, they were crying and saying, “Wow, you understood what we do”. That happened that time, but it happened in other countries as well.

Aguilar: Overall, what would you like people to take from the film?

Archambault: I want them to want to sing and hug the people they love when they come out of the theater [Laughs]. Be open to difference; don’t give in to judgment or appearances. If you are on the bus and there is someone who talks to himself or herself and you feel uncomfortable, just give them a chance. You probably have as much weirdness in you but it doesn’t show, because we are educated for it not to show in society. Be warm, we just want to love, and be loved.

Aguilar: How does it feel to represent Canada at the Academy Awards, is there any sort of pressure or too much attention on you because of this?

Archambault: I don’t feel any pressure because it is already an honor. Specially with this subject and this type of film. I think it is great that Canada chose this one. It makes me believe more in human beings, makes me less cynic. It is great to shine a light on these people, and specially people who work to help people like Gabrielle, they never get the attention they deserve. They always struggle to get funding, they are not actors, just for that I think more people will see the film. I hope.

Aguilar: Do you have any upcoming projects you are working on now?

Archambault: I have a few projects. The scrip that is finished now it’s called After The End it’s in English. It’s an adaptation of a British play. It is set mostly in a nuclear bunker [Laughs].

"Gabrielle" Opens in NYC and L.A on Friday July 4th.

Gabrielle, Canada's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : Entertainment One Films U.S. International Sales Agent: Entertainment One Films International

It's easy to admit that everyone, and that should really mean everyone, deserves to be loved. Not only to be loved, but to fall in love. Unjustifiably society still makes exceptions, and sadly deems certain individuals unfit to experience that deep connection with another person. Rarely portrayed in film as self- sufficient beings, handicapped people are indeed like everyone else when it comes to matters of the heart. Bravely and with heartwarming tact Québécois director Louise Archambault blends a fictional storyline with documentary-like elements in Gabrielle to construct one of the most moving films of the year, and unquestionably one that honors the differences and special qualities of those often kept in the sidelines.

For Gabrielle (Gabrielle Marion-Rivard), the cheerful protagonist, every day seems to be a wondrous adventure. She is a young woman who lives with an infectious happiness for life which shines though her beautifully charming smile. She works at a regular office job and also sings in a local choir, and her days are filled with excitement. Yes, Gabrielle falls into the category of handicapped, but although born with Williams syndrome and living in a facility for individuals with a variety of conditions, she has dreams, aspirations, and wants to one day form a family with her boyfriend Martin (played marvelously by Alexandre Landry), who is not handicapped in real life. He is also an intellectually challenged young man who is part of her singing group at the Les Muses center. As their romance progresses from a simply platonic friendship into their sexual awaking, his mother decides they cannot be together as she believes their condition disqualifies them from the hardships of a romantic relationship.

Heartbroken Gabrielle seems not to be able to concentrate in any of her activities. She is in love. In an effort to bring back her beloved Martin into her life she attempts to be fully independent and demands her own apartment, but her own limitations get in her way. Her sister Sophie (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin), her most reliable moral support, has the decided to follow her fiancé to India, a situation that heightens Gabrielle’s distress at that same time that she must prepare for an important live performance with her choir without Martin’s support.

Like few other directors, Archambault’s filmmaking convictions are utterly inspirational. She cast most of her actors directly from the actual educational center where the story takes place. Not only does this provide her film with remarkable authenticity, something that could not have happened with actors playing make-believe versions of their experience, but it also highlights the talent of these amazing people who are often dismissed as incapable of complex understanding. The director strongly positions the viewer to see them as tridimensional characters full of nuances. They dance, sing, and show their emotions without the societal inhibitions that prevent all others living a “normal” existence, from experiencing every moment to the fullest. Untainted by judgment, Gabrielle, Martin, and their comrades are essentially the purest, most loyal characters one can encounter, and Archambault captures their endless willingness to accept and love others gracefully.

One of the crucial numbers the colorful choir members work on for their show with Robert Charlebois (who actually appears in the film) is his song “Ordinaire” (Ordinary), which Gabrielle has designated as Martin’s song, and what a fitting tune it is. Regardless of their differences, their special needs or particular shortcomings, these fantastically loving individuals are ordinary where it counts. Yet, their circumstances force them to achieve their goals in unordinary ways, which really makes them exemplary and special. Gabrielle Marion-Rivard embodies happiness and perseverance, her performance is sure to transfer that to the audience. Surely an amazingly unique love story, Gabrielle is a joyous and touching portrayal of a singular kind of love, one that is not ruled by vanity or lust, but just exists with all-welcoming open arms. Above all, one thing is made clear, the only disability that can really prevent anyone from being happy is not being able to love, and in that field Gabrielle is above average, if not gifted.

'Gabrielle' Opens in NYC (Village East Cinemas) and L.A (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) on Friday July 4th, 2014

Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...

Pouise Archambault's sensitive second feature tells the story of Gabrielle (Gabrielle Marion-Rivard), a young woman with Williams syndrome who is passing into adulthood, and all the trials and tribulations — living alone, taking care of yourself, finding love — that accompany that journey.

Twenty-two-year-old Gabrielle lives in a group housing unit in Montreal and is a member of Les Muses, a choir for singers with cognitive disabilities. Rehearsing at a local community center, she gravitates toward Martin (Alexandre Landry), and the two quickly join in a laser-focused and euphoric relationship.

Marion-Rivard, along with most of the choir members we see in the film, is a non-professional actor; Archambault cast her while developing the story after a period o...

The 61st Sydney Film Festival today announced 32 films to be featured in this year.s event (June 4-15) in advance of the full program launch on May 7.

The line-up includes the world premiere of The Redfern Story, 19 Australian premieres, 13 features, 11 documentaries and an eight-film retrospective on maverick American filmmaker Robert Altman. Altman.s son, filmmaker Michael Altman, will attend festival and introduce several of the Altman screenings.

Darlene Johnson.s The Redfern Story chronicles the volatile birth of the first all-Indigenous theatre company, the National Black Theatre. It features interviews with indigenous media pioneer Lester Bostock, writer Gerry Bostock, actor Lillian Crombie, activist-academic Gary Foley, academic Marcia Langton, actors Rachael Maza, Bryan Brown and Bindi Williams. .We are pleased to present this sneak preview of 32 of the 180-plus films in this year.s program,. said Festival Director Nashen Moodley. .We have gathered a selection of the best films from the...

In a year that saw François Delisle’s Le météore (Sundance and Berlin Film Festival accepted film) receive no love (zero nominations), and Denis Côté’s critically well-received Vic + Flo Saw a Bear was perhaps too askew for the voting clique (it did grab best Actress for Quebec’s “Melissa Leo” in Pierrette Robitaille), it was a bigger than life biopic by helmer Daniel Roby that flexed its muscles, beating out the comp. The high gloss Louis Cyr won in several tech categories and it’s strongman Antoine Bertrand won for Best Actor. Considered the favorite to win the top prize, Gabrielle was awarded the Best Director and Screenplay awards for Louise Archambault. Oddly, that film received no Best Actress consideration while it did net Gabrielle Marion-Rivard a Best Actress win at Canadian Screen Awards. Here are the noms and winners of the 16th edition.

Best Film

Catimini

Le démantèlement...

Cinema Retro has received the following press release:

Los Angeles, CA – March 11, 2014 – For the fifth year, Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz (Trk) presents A Week of French Language Cinema in Los Angeles, with Free nightly screenings of critically acclaimed Francophonic films, from Saturday, March 15 to Thursday, March 20, 2014. The program includes notable films from France (3/15), Canada (3/16), Senegal (3/17), Belgium (3/18), Switzerland (3/19), and Quebec (3/20). All films include subtitles in English and nightly screenings start at 7:30pm. Saturday's opening night screening and Thursday's closing screening are preceded by receptions with wine and hors d’oeuvres at 7:00pm. To RSVP, please email rsvp.trk@lyceela.org with name, email address, number of people attending, and the screening(s) guests would like to attend. All films are suitable for audiences ages 13 and up. Admission is Free! This program is presented in collaboration with the Consulates of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada; the Quebec Government Office in Los Angeles; and TV5Monde.

Despite not being nominated for Best Director, Louise Archambault’s Gabrielle managed to pull off what we thought was the impossible (our Leora Heilbronn has pegged the drama as the film that should win, but favored Denis Villeneuve’s Enemy as the best bet) winning Best Motion Picture at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards (a.k.a Canadian Oscars). If the out of synch supposed “live” telecast wasn’t bad enough (all awards including the winning film were announced almost one hour prior to on twittersphere), the show’s producers gave Gabrielle winning producers Luc Déry and Kim McCraw the equivalent of end of toilette paper roll in terms of time.

The voters also choose Gabrielle‘s Gabrielle Marion-Rivard as Best Actress in a Leading Role, while the heavily favored Enemy grabbed five awards, Best Direction for Villeneuve, Best Original Score for the excellent Danny Bensi/Saunder Jurriaans pairing , Best Editing,...

Producers Kim MCraw and Luc Déry collected the best motion picture prize at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards (9) and Gabrielle Marion-Rivard was named best lead actress. Louise Archambault directed Gabrielle.

On a big night for Enemy, Denis Villeneuve was named best director and Sarah Gadon best supporting actress.

The psychothriller also won awards for editing, original score and cinematography.

Gabriel Arcand was named best lead actor for The Auction (Le Démantelement) while Gordon Pinsent claimed the best supporting actor prize for The Grand Seduction.

The F-Word writer Elan Mastai won best adapted screenplay and The Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary prize was awarded to Watermark.

“Tonight we gather in the company of our country’s brightest and most glamorous talent to celebrate the best in Canadian film and television,” said Academy chair Martin Katz.

“I am honoured to celebrate and applaud this year’s outstanding nominees and winners. Their work brings us together, around screens...

With the dust fully settled on the Academy Awards, we point our attention northward with tonight’s 2014 Canadian Screen Awards. Many of the television winners have already been announced in glitzy fashion during this Canadian Screen Week, but with baited breath, we’re more keen on seeing how the film award honors will pan out. Last year’s Tiff saw Denis Villeneuve bring not one (Prisoners), but a pair of feature films and it is the offbeat, doppelgänger delight Enemy that should reap in the top awards of the evening. Here are my predictions of who will win, who should win, and who should have been nominated in each of the most anticipated film categories.

Best Motion Picture:

The nominees are: Enemy, The Dismantlement, Empire of Dirt, The F Word, Gabrielle, The Grand Seduction, Maina, Tom at the Farm

Screenie voters tend to favor Canada’s yearly submission for the...

The Academy Of Canadian Cinema & Television has announced the Canadian Screen Awards nominees.

“We are exceedingly proud today to reveal the nominees for the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards,” said Academy chair Martin Katz.

“This was a year marked by a record-breaking number of submissions, reflecting a robust level of activity in the screen-based industries in Canada which we will celebrate during Canadian Screen Week, March 3-9. Congratulations to all.”

David Cronenberg will receive the lifetime achievement award. For the full list of winners invcluding television, digital and special awards click here.

The feature nominees in full:

Best Motion Picture

The Dismantlement (Le Démantèlement) – Bernadette Payeur, Marc Daigle

Empire Of Dirt – Jennifer Podemski

Enemy – Kim McCraw, Luc Déry, Miguel A Faura, Niv Fichman, Sari Friedland

The F-Word – Andre Rouleau, David Gross, Macdara Kelleher

Gabrielle – Kim McCraw, Luc Déry

The Grand Seduction – Barbara Doran, Roger Frappier

Maïna – Karine Martin, Michel Poulette, Yves Fortin

Tom At The Farm (Tom À La Ferme) – [link...

The Academy Of Canadian Cinema & Television has announced its nominees.

“We are exceedingly proud today to reveal the nominees for the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards,” said Academy chair Martin Katz. “This was a year marked by a record-breaking number of submissions, reflecting a robust level of activity in the screen-based industries in Canada which we will celebrate during Canadian Screen Week, March 3-9. Congratulations to all.”

David Cronenberg will receive the lifetime achievement award. For the full list of winners invcluding television, digital and special awards click here.

The fearure nominees in full:

Best Motion Picture

The Dismantlement (Le Démantèlement) – Bernadette Payeur, Marc Daigle

Empire Of Dirt (pictured) – Jennifer Podemski

Enemy – Kim McCraw, Luc Déry, Miguel A Faura, Niv Fichman, Sari Friedland

The F-Word – Andre Rouleau, David Gross, Macdara Kelleher

Gabrielle – Kim McCraw, Luc Déry

The Grand Seduction – Barbara Doran, Roger Frappier

Maïna – Karine Martin, Michel Poulette, Yves Fortin

Tom At The Farm (Tom À La Ferme) – [link...

As this year's Academy Awards nominations approach, and after the shocking selection of films conforming the Academy's shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film Award, audiences will get the opportunity to see some of the films that were dismissed but which are absolutely deserving of attention. Rather than including all of the 76 Submissions the Palm Spring Film Festival decided to shorten their program to 45 of what they considered the best representation of the extensive amount of films.

Included in the program are all of the 9 shortlisted films, all the other major omissions, and many more obscure titles that showcase some of the most interesting voices in World Cinema today. Most of these films have been awarded prizes and received praise at major festivals from Sundance to Cannes and Toronto, and will give the viewer a broader view of the category beyond the assumed frontrunners.

Below is a list with more information on each of the films that will be screening at Palm Springs with reviews and interviews with the filmmakers for the majority of them. Read more about the complete list of 76 Foreign Language Oscar Submissions visit Here

For more information on the Palm Springs International Film Festival visit Here

Argentina

The German Doctor (Wakolda)

Dir: Lucia Puenzo

Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew

U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Isa: Pyramide

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Case Study by Sydney Levine

Australia

The Rocket

Dir: Kim Mordaunt

Language: Lao

U.S Release: Kino Lorber

Isa: Level K

Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition

Trailer

Austria

The Wall

Dir: Julian Polsler

Language: German

U.S Release: Music Box Films - May 31, 2013

Isa: The Match Factory

Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Official Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Belgium

The Broken Circle Breakdown

Dir: Felix van Groeningen

Language: Flemish

U.S Release: Tribeca Film - November 1, 2013

Isa: The Match Factory

Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Carlos Aguilar

Bosnia And Herzegovina

An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker

Dir: Danis Tanović

Language: Bosnian, Romani

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: The Match Factory

Festivals: Berlinale Competition,Efm Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema

Trailer

Cambodia

The Missing Picture

Dir: Rithy Panh

Language: French

U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Canada

Gabrielle

Dir: Louise Archambault

Language: French

U.S Release: eOne

Isa: eOne

Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Carlos Aguilar

Chile

Gloria

Dir: Sebastian Lelio

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Roadside Attractions

Isa: Funny Balloons

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Sydney Levine

China

Back to 1942

Dir: Feng Xiaogang

Language: Mandarin, English

U.S Release: Well Go USA - May 14, 2013

Isa: Huayi Brothers

Festivals: Rome Film Festival 2012, Dubai International Film Festival 2012

Trailer

Croatia

Halima's Path

Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić

Language: Bosnian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Denmark

The Hunt

Dir: Thomas Vinterberg

Language: Danish

U.S Release: Magnolia Pictures - July 12, 2013

Isa: TrustNordisk

Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest 2012

Trailer

Egypt

Winter of Discontent

Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Venice International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival, Dubai Film Festival

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Finland

Disciple

Dir: Ulrika Bengts

Language: Finnish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Helsinki Ff 2012, Montréal World Ff 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Carlos Aguilar

France

Renoir

Dir: Gilles Bourdos

Language: French

U.S Release: Samuel Goldwyn Films - March 29, 2013

Isa: Wild Bunch

Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard

Trailer

Georgia

In Bloom

Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß

Language: Georgian

U.S Release: Big World Pictures

Isa: Memento

Festivals: Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Germany

Two Lives

Dir: Georg Maas

Language: German

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Beta Cinema

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013

Trailer

Hong Kong

The Grandmaster

Dir: Wong Kar-wai

Language: Cantonese, Mandarin

U.S Release: The Weinstein Company - August 23, 2013

Isa: Fortissimo

Festivals: Berlinale -Efm 2013

Trailer

Hungary

The Notebook

Dir: Janosz Szasz

Language: Hungarian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Iceland

Of Horses and Men

Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson

Language: Icelandic

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Icelandic Film Centre

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

India

The Good Road

Dir: Gyan Correa

Language: Gujarati

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: National Film Board of India

Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Iran

The Past

Dir: Asghar Farhadi

Language: French, Persian

U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - December 20, 2013

Isa: Memento

Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Carlos Aguilar

Israel

Bethlehem

Dir: Yuval Adler

Language: Hebrew

U.S Release: Adopt

Isa: Westend

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Telluride Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival

Trailer

Italy

The Great Beauty

Dir: Paolo Sorrentino

Language: Italian

U.S Release: AJanus Films

Isa: Pathe

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,

Trailer

Interview by Sydney Levine

Japan

The Great Passage

Dir: Yuya Ishii

Language: Japanese

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Shochiku

Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection

Trailer

Kazakhstan

Shal (The Old Man)

Dir: Yermek Tursunov

Language: Russian, Kazakh

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: N/A

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Latvia

Mother, I Love You

Dir: Janis Nords

Language: Latvian

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: New Europe Film Sales

Festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival 2013, Berlinale Generation KPlus (Grand Prix of the International Jury for the best feature film)

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Mexico

Heli

Dir: Amat Escalante

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Ndm

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Winner Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Carlos Aguilar

Morocco

Horses of God

Dir: Nabil Ayouch

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

The Netherlands

Borgman

Dir: Alex van Warmerdam

Language: Dutch

U.S Release: Drafthouse Films

Isa: Fortissimo

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

New Zealand

White Lies

Dir: Dana Rotberg

Language: Maori

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Film Sales Company

Festivals: N/A

Trailer

Norway

I Am Yours

Dir: Iram Haq

Language: Norwegian, Urdu

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013

Trailer

Palestine

Omar

Dir: Hany Abu-Assad

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Adopt FilmsIsa: The Match Factory

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Carlos Aguilar

Philippines

Transit

Dir: Hannah Espia

Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Poland

Walesa

Dir: Andrzej Wajda

Language: Polish

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Films Boutique

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013

Trailer

Romania

Child's Pose

Dir: Calin Peter Netzer

Language: Romanian

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Beta Cinema

Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema

Trailer

Articles by Sydney Levine, Berlin Diary #2

Russia

Stalingrad

Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk

Language: Russian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: N/A

Trailer

Saudi Arabia

Wadjda

Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics - September 13, 2013

Isa: The Match Factory

Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Serbia

Circles

Dir: Srdan Golubovic

Language: Serbian

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Memento

Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Sydney Levine

Singapore

Ilo Ilo

Dir: Anthony Chen

Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Memento

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Slovenia

Class Enemy

Dir: Rok Biček

Language: Slovene

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

South Korea

Juvenile Offender

Dir: Kang Yi-kwan

Language: Korean

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Finecut

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,

Trailer

Spain

15 Years and One Day

Dir: Gracia Querejeta

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Latido

Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

Interview by Carlos Aguilar

Switzerland

More Than Honey

Dir: Markus Imhoof

Language: German, Mandarin

U.S Release: Tba

Isa: Films Boutique

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Berlin Efm 2013

Trailer

Turkey

The Butterfly's Dream

Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan

Language: Turkish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar

United Kingdom

Metro Manila

Dir: Sean Elllis

Language: Filipino, Tagalog

U.S Release: Paladin/108 Media

Isa:

Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013

Trailer

Uruguay

Anina

Dir: Alfredo Soderguit

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin International Film Festival, Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema

Trailer

Review by Carlos Aguilar...

Canada’s official entry into the 86th annual Oscars for the foreign language category will be released by Entertainment One on Blu-ray and DVD February 11, 2014. Director Louise Archambault’s Gabrielle (2013) tells the story of a mentally challenged young woman who struggles for independence and the freedom to express herself sexually. The film [...]

Continue reading: Home Entertainment News: January 6, 2014: Gabrielle, Le Grand Cahier...

Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2014 submissions (photo: Ziyi Zhang in ‘The Grandmaster’) (See previous post: Best Foreign Language Film Oscar: ‘The Past,’ ‘Wadjda,’ Andrzej Wajda Among Omissions) In case you missed it, here’s the full list of submissions (in alphabetical order, per country) for the 2014 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. The list of contenders was originally announced on October 7, 2013. Of note: Saudi Arabia and Moldova were first-timers; Montenegro was a first-timer as an independent country. Afghanistan, Wajma — An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram, director; Albania, Agon, Robert Budina, director; Argentina, The German Doctor, Lucía Puenzo, director; Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt, director; Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler, director; Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev, director; Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director; Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen, director; Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanovic, director; Brazil, Neighboring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho,...

Top brass at the 25th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) have announced a new programme on Canadian Cinema as well as the traditionally strong roster of foreign-language films eligible for the Fipresci Award in the Awards Buzz section, and Modern Masters.

The festival will screen 45 of the 76 official foreign-language Oscar submissions under the umbrella of Awards Buzz.

“We’ve selected Canadian films for a special focus at this year’s festival for many reasons, not the least of which is the wealth of talent emerging from its relatively small, indigenous film industry, and the depth and richness of story and character portrayal its films exemplify,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald.

“Whether it’s established auteurs like Denis Coté, Denis Villenueve and Atom Egoyan, gifted actor-directors like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley or newly emerging talents like Chloé Robichaud, Craig Goodwill and Sébastien Pilote, Canadian creative ingenuity is on abundant display in its films. All of this...

Last night in a packed theatre at the Tiff Bell Lightbox an eclectic group of film critics, the who’s who of top local film producers and filmmakers, and Tiff executives gathered to hear the unveiling of the 13th annual Canada’s Top Ten films of the year. The room buzzed with excitement with many discussing the Nyfcc winners, predicting the Board of Review winners and, of course, noting which filmmakers were in attendance (assuming that was a clear cut sign of who made the list).

A hushed silence came over the crowd when Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of Tiff, took to the podium on stage to introduce the evening’s host, beloved local comedian Steve Patterson. “As a 15 year veteran of comedy, I know what it’s like not to be recognized”, Patterson cracked, making light of Canadian gems often going overlooked on the world stage. This year, however,...

Enemy, The F-Word, Sarah Prefers To Run make it on to annual list.

Enemy, The F-Word, Sarah Prefers To Run have made it on to Tiff’s annual list.

The Tiff hierarchy announced on December 3 its feature and short film selections for the 13th annual Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival.

The 10-day festival is scheduled to run from January 3-12 2014 at Tiff Bell Lightbox and features public screenings of selected films accompanied by introductions and Q&A sessions with film-makers.

Director Denis Villeneuve and Jake Gyllenhaal will appear at Tiff Bell Lightbox on January 5 to discuss their recent collaborations on Prisoners and Enemy (pictured).

The festival will conclude on January 12 with an on-stage conversation between Canadian film-maker John Greyson and Toronto International Film Festival artistic director Cameron Bailey.

“Canadian movies are global movies now, and Tiff’s Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival is the best opportunity to see our country’s creativity on the big...

I have been attending Whistler Film Festival in recent years and am always excited by the films and the program.

Following is a lineup of some of the industry events that will be happening there next week the 13th annual Whistler Film Festival (December 4 – 8, 2013) will host Variety’s 10 Screenwriters To Watch for the second consecutive year. This year’s honored screenwriters will share their personal stories and challenges related to succeeding in today’s film industry at an afternoon discussion on December 7th, hosted by Variety’s Vice President and Executive Editor Steven Gaydos. Variety will also present the screenwriters with an award at Wff’s Awards Brunch on December 8th.

Variety’s class of 2013 screenwriters and notable credits include American screenwriters Ned Benson (The Disappearance of Eleonora Rigby), Lucinda Coxon (Crimson Peak), Andrew Dodge (Bad Words); Kieran Fitzgerald (Bambi), Morgan David Foehl (The Asset), Jennifer Lee (Frozen), Barbara Marshall (The Exorcism Diaries) , Michael Mitnick (The Giver), Jonathan Tropper (One Last Thing Before I Go), ; and Canadian screenwriter Elan Mastai (The F Word) whose lead actor Daniel Radcliffe was one of Wff’s 2012 honorees. Eight of the ten screenwriters are attending this year’s Festival. Absent are Jennifer Lee who is on press tour for a film, and Ned Benson who is filming.

Variety’s 10 To Watch series spotlights emerging writers, actors, producers, directors, comics and cinematographers. A team of Variety editors, critics and reporters selects the honorees.

“The writer's critical role in the filmmaking process is a primary reason why Variety's 10 Screenwriters To Watch has become a sought-after event at the Whistler Film Festival,” says Whistler Film Festival’s Executive Director, Shauna Hardy Mishaw. “With Variety showcasing the brightest and most promising new writers, the chance to meet and hear their stories firsthand makes this a must-attend discussion for both casual fans and aspiring filmmakers.”

Gabrielle (see our review Here), Canada's submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, is one of Wff’s Special Presentations. Delightfully offbeat, the truly moving love story looks at a young woman's search for love and independence in the face of a genetic condition. Director Louise Archambault (read our interview with her Here) and producers Luc Déry and Kim McCraw will join Wff Director of Programming Paul Gratton for a brief In Conversation on December 7 after the screening which begins at 4:00pm.

From December 4th to 8th, the Whistler Film Festival will celebrate its 13th edition in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, North America’s premiere mountain resort. The Festival will host filmmaking luminaries for an intimate five-day program of screenings, tributes, special events and industry initiatives. Recognized by filmmakers and film lovers alike as one of Canada’s most important showcases for film, the Whistler Film Festival is where artists are celebrated, audiences are inspired, new ideas are discussed, and business opportunities are solidified.

Wff’s film lineup and schedule, and industry Summit schedule are available at www.whistlerfilmfestival.com .

Here is some information about the Festival -

The Whistler Film Festival is supported by Telefilm Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Bell Media (CTV, Etalk, E!) is Wff’s lead partner. Wff is sponsored by Variety, Transcontinental Media (Elle Canada), the Directors Guild of Canada - British Columbia, American Airlines, Sorel, Christie, Zoom Audio Visual Networks, Promosa Management, Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler.

The Whistler Film Festival Society (Wffs) is a cultural charitable organization dedicated to furthering the art of film by providing programs that focus on the discovery, development and promotion of new talent culminating with a must attend festival for artists, the industry and audiences in Whistler. Wffs produces one of Canada’s leading film festivals and plays a leadership role in offering professional and project development programs for filmmakers.

Black Nights Film Festival kicks off 17th edition with Canadian Oscar submission Gabrielle.

This year’s Industry@Tallinn programme (Nov 25-29) will welcome 36 industry speakers from a dozen countries.

The event will also include the signing of Memorandum of Mutual Interest between Estonian Film Institute and Korean Film Council (Kofic).

The panelists on the Hollywood panel include Garrick Dion of Bold, Gloria Fan of Mosaic, Kyle Franke of Xyz and Jeff Barry of ICM. The future festivals/distribution panel will feature Jarod Neece of SXSW, Tim League of Alamo Drafthouse and Daniel Kim of Busan.

The Canadian panel includes Fantasia’s Stephanie Trepanier, Toronto’s Natalie Lue and filmmaker Malcolm Sutherland.

A South Korean panel will include producers Ellen Kim and Tae-joon Park and will be moderated by Screen’s Deputy Asia Editor Jean Noh.

There are also discussions devoted to Japanese co-production, film music, tarnsmedia and animation.

Meanwhile the festival kicked off Friday with director [link=nm...

Canada’s entry in this year’s foreign-film Oscar race, “Gabrielle,” is a feel-good love story, but hardly your average rom-com: The two leads, both in their early 20s, are mentally challenged. That led the filmmakers to some challenges of their own, particularly in the casting, a ripe topic for discussion at a screening Wednesday night hosted by TheWrap. Hire professional actors, or go for the real, developmentally disabled deal? That was the question, and “Gabrielle’s” writer-director, Louise Archambault, ended up having it both ways, although she was able to find non-pros from Quebec’s mentally challenged character to...

New projects from Pakalnina, Louhimies and Kilmi at Tallinn market.

New films from Laila Pakalnina (Dawn), Aku Louhimies (True) and Jaak Kilmi (Heroes from the East) are among 12 projects from 11 countries selected for this year’s Baltic Event co-production market which will be held in Tallinn from November 27-29.

Local Estonian film-maker Kilmi will be at the Baltic Event for the second year in a row after presenting another feature project, The Hoppers, which won the Screen International Best Pitch Award last year.

As the Baltic Event’s organisers point out, the 2013 line-up has a large number of feature debutants – six in total – ranging from Romania’s Botond-Csaba Püsök (Miracle in Cluj) through Ukraine’s Marysia Nikitiuk (When The Trees Are Falling) to Finland’s Jussi Hiltunen (Law of the Land).

In addition, Julietta Sichel, the former programme director of Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, is coming to Tallinn with her company 8Heads Production and Stanislav Babic of Croatia...

AFI Fest 2013 presented by Audi, a program of the American Film Institute, today announced the remaining sections and films that will screen in the festival’s World Cinema, American Independents, Breakthrough, Midnight, Cinema’s Legacy and Presentations programs. AFI Fest, which redefines Hollywood today as a place where icons and emerging artists bring audiences together to experience global cinema in the movie capital of the world, will take place November 7 through 14 at the historic Tcl Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

World Cinema showcases the most anticipated and prize-winning international films of the year, the American Independents section features work by U.S. filmmakers, Breakthrough highlights work discovered only through the blind submission process, Midnight’s selections tend toward the macabre and Cinema’s Legacy highlights restorations and classic films.

This year’s program includes the return of several filmmakers to AFI Fest...

Festival top brass have announced the outstanding World Cinema, American Independents, Breakthrough, Midnight, Cinema’s Legacy and Presentations programmes.

The AFI Fest is scheduled to run from November 7-14 in Hollywood’s Tcl Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

The complete programme includes 119 films (83 features, 36 shorts), representing 43 countries. Twenty-seven films are directed or co-directed by women as are 10 documentaries.

For the fifth consecutive year, AFI Fest will offer free tickets to all screenings, however only the Cinepass Express will provide priority entry to all regular screenings. For the complete programme visit the official site.

World Cinema SelectionsBaby Blues Kasia Rosłaniec (Poland)Bethlehem Yuval Adler (Israel)Borgman Alex van Warmerdam (Neth-Bel-Den)Child’s Pose Călin Peter Netzer (Romania)Closed Curtain Jafar Panahi, Kamboziya Partovi (Iran)The Congress Ari Folman (Isr-Ger-Pol-Lux)An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker Danis Tanovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina-France-Slovenia)Exhibition Joanna Hogg (UK)Gabrielle Louise Archambault (Canada...

Update: Entertainment One has scooped up Us rights to Canada's official Oscar entry, "Gabrielle." The film, which is the second feature film by director Louise Archambault, centers on a Quebecois young woman (played by Gabrielle Marion-Rivard) with Williams syndrome, which slows cognitive abilities while often increasing gregariousness and heightening musical talent. Gabrielle is in the throes of first love with a man who sings in her choir, but his mother has concerns about the two, both disabled, being able to carry on a healthy relationship. Entertainment One plans a theatrical release later this winter. Earlier: A record 76 countries have submitted films for Oscar consideration in the Foreign-Language Film category this year. Saudi Arabia and Moldova are first-time entrants, while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country. A complete and alphabetical list of all 76 countries' selections is here. Zeitgeist Films has acquired Us rights to Romania's...

eOne has picked up Us distribution rights to Canada’s foreign-language Oscar submission Gabrielle and plans to release this winter.

Gabrielle marks the second feature by Louise Archambault and stars Gabrielle Marion-Rivard in the lead as a fiercely independent young woman with the rare genetic disorder Williams syndrome.

micro_scope produced and funding came from Telefilm Canada, Sodec, Radio-Canada, Cogeco, Super Ecran and Artv as well as provincial and federal tax credits.

eOne / Les Films Séville subsidiary Les Films Christal holds Canadian rights and eOne Films International handles worldwide sales.

Entertainment One Films Us announced today that they have acquired the Us distribution rights to Gabrielle , which was selected to represent Canada as a possible nominee in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the Academy Awards. It is slated for a domestic theatrical release this winter. Gabrielle is the second feature film by director Louise Archambault and stars Gabrielle Marion-Rivard in the title role, a young woman with Williams syndrome who has a contagious joie de vivre and an exceptional musical gift. Since she met her boyfriend Martin at the recreation center where they are choir members, they have been inseparable. However, because they are "different," their loved ones are fearful of their relationship. As the choir prepares for an important music...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its shortlist for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar — totaling a not-so-short 76 submitted films.

The number, up from 71 films last year, sets a new record for the category and includes frontrunners such as Asghar Farhadi’s The Past from Iran, Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt from Denmark, and Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster from Hong Kong. Abdellatif Kechiche’s festival favorite lesbian drama Blue Is the Warmest Color from France, however, failed to make the cut-off date for eligibility, while India controversially submitted Gyan Correa’s The Good Road over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.

The Academy officially announced today that a record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 2014 Oscars. Among those submitting, Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants and this is the first time Montenegro has submitted a film as an independent country. Based solely on name recognition alone I'd say Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt (Denmark) and Asghar Farhadi's The Past (Iran) will be looked at as front-runners. However, I haven't only seen a few of the titles on this list, another of which is Mexico's entry, Heli from Amat Escalante. I have heard good things about Borgman (Netherlands) and it will be interesting to see how Haifaa al-Mansour's Wadjda is treated as it is a story unto itself, not to mention it seems to be receiving high marks from those that have seen it. I'm personally hoping to catch it soon...

A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the foreign language film category for the 86th Academy Awards.

Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants while Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.

Earlier this year the Academy changed its rule allowing all voting members to vote on the shortlist.

The nominations will be announced on January 16 2014 and the Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The 2013 submissions are:

Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram

Albania, Agon, Robert Budina

Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo

Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt

Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler

Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev

Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen

Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović

Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho

Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov

Cambodia...

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has released the list of the 76 countries and their submissions officially competing for the 2014 Foreign Language Film Oscar.

Amongst the high profile entries this year are Australia's "The Rocket," Denmark's "The Hunt," France's "Renoir," Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster," Iran's "The Past," and Saudi Arabia's "Wadjda".

The nominations will be announced on January 16th 2014 ahead of the ceremony on March 2nd. Here is the complete list:

Afghanistan, "Wajma – An Afghan Love Story," Barmak Akram

Albania, "Agon," Robert Budina

Argentina, "The German Doctor," Lucía Puenzo

Australia, "The Rocket," Kim Mordaunt

Austria, "The Wall," Julian Pölsler

Azerbaijan, "Steppe Man," Shamil Aliyev

Bangladesh, "Television," Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Belgium, "The Broken Circle Breakdown," Felix van Groeningen

Bosnia and Herzegovina, "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker," Danis Tanovic

Brazil, "Neighboring Sounds," Kleber Mendonça Filho

Bulgaria, "The Color of the Chameleon," Emil Hristov

Cambodia, "The Missing Picture,...

A record 76 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 86th Academy Awards®.

Moldova and Saudi Arabia are first-time entrants; Montenegro is submitting for the first time as an independent country.

The 2013 submissions are:

Afghanistan, “Wajma – An Afghan Love Story,” Barmak Akram, director;

Albania, “Agon,” Robert Budina, director;

Argentina, “The German Doctor,” Lucía Puenzo, director;

Australia, “The Rocket,” Kim Mordaunt, director;

Austria, “The Wall,” Julian Pölsler, director;

Azerbaijan, “Steppe Man,” Shamil Aliyev, director;

Bangladesh, “Television,” Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, director;

Belgium, “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Felix van Groeningen, director;

Bosnia and Herzegovina, “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” Danis Tanovic, director;

Brazil, “Neighboring Sounds,” Kleber Mendonça Filho, director;

Bulgaria, “The Color of the Chameleon,” Emil Hristov, director;

Cambodia, “The Missing Picture,” Rithy Panh, director;

Canada, “Gabrielle,” Louise Archambault, director;

Chad, “GriGris,” Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director;

Chile, “Gloria,” Sebastián Lelio, director;

China, “Back to 1942,” Feng Xiaogang,...

The submission list for the 86th Annual Academy Awards' foreign-language category is complete, with a record 76 countries selecting (last year, a then-record 71 countries submitted in the end). Among them are several high profile films from the international film festival circuit: Iran (which after much speculation they wouldn't submit, decided to go for it with Ashgar Farhadi's mostly France-set "The Past," two years after Farhadi won for "A Separation"), France (which selected Gilles Bourdos' "Renoir" after Abdellatif Kechiche’s Palme d’Or winner "Blue is the Warmest Color didn't meet the release date eligibility requirements), Chile (submitting Berlinale favorite "Gloria"), Canada (going for four in a row with Louise Archambault's Locarno Film Fest favourite "Gabrielle"), Japan (controversially submitting "The Great Passage" over heavy favorite and Cannes prize winner "Like Father, Like Son), Italy (Cannes favorite "The Great Beauty"), Belgium (Felix van Groeningen's "The...

All entries for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the Academy Awards 2014.

Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.

Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.

An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.

Submissions

Afghanistan, Wajma: An Afghan Love Story, Barmak Akram

Albania, Agon, Robert Budina

Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo

Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt

Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler

Azerbaijan, Steppe Man, Shamil Aliyev

Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen

Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović

Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho

Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov

Cambodia...

In line with SydneysBuzz’s focus on the international film business we have put together the most complete list on the 67 national submissions to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This list showcases films that have been the centerpieces of the most renowned festivals and that represent the best in the cinematic landscape from across the globe. Last year, at this point in the race the clear favorite was Palm d'Or winner Amour, which went on to win the award with no significant competition and scoring 4 other nominations including Best Picture, an outstanding feat for a foreign film about love at the end of life, by Michael Haneke.

This time around the story could have repeated almost identically with the most recent winner of Cannes’ biggest prize Blue is the Warmest Color. However, the film became one more victim of the Academy's rules, which rendered it unqualified to compete because of the late release date in France. With Blue out of the race the award is fair game for virtually anyone on the list, although there are certainly some favorites.

Saudi Arabia's first ever submission, the charming Wadjda might turn into beginners luck and score the Kingdom, in which movie theaters are banned, a nomination or even a win. Iran's audacious decision to submit the French-language The Past caused uproar among conservatives, but might certainly score the nation another nomination after their win in 2012 with the masterful A Separation. Other strong contenders are Denmark's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen, and which would continue the countries streak of 3 consecutive nominations winning in 2011 with In A Better World, as well as Canada's Gabrielle about the romantic relationship of a handicapped couple, and Hong Kong’s The Grandmaster by famous director Wong Kar-wai.

Italy’s The Great Beauty, Australia’s The Rocket, Romania’s Child’s Pose, and Chile’s Gloria are among other titles that might score a nomination given their success and prominence during their festivals rounds. Some countries decided to take a chance and send audacious choices as their representation to the Academy, so is the case Mexico, a country that chose the more violent and artistically daring Cannes winner Heli, over the hit comedy Instructions Not Included, or Greece’s Boy Eating The Bird’s Food, which includes grotesque imagery that might not sit well with academy members.

The African continent is minimally represented with only 3 entries, South Africa’s Four Corners, and the Arabic-language works God’s Horses from Morocco, and Winter of Discontent from Egypt. Algeria, which has submitted regularly and even scored several nominations, is absent in this occasion. Another big omission is China who did not submit an entry but whose language is represented by Taiwan and the above-mentioned Hong Kong; equally strange is France’s decision to enter Renoir over tons of other films that could have substituted Abdellatif Kechiche.

Less surprising is Russia’s decision to submit a blockbuster-style production with a very nationalistic message in lieu of a more intimate film. On the other hand, Cambodia, Lithuania, and Switzerland decided to go with a documentary, a choice that has never been very fruitful in this category. Lastly, Israel and Palestine both entered strong candidate with Bethlehem and Omar respectively, adding with that to the great year the region has seen in the cinematic realm.

The rest of the films are a mixture of obscure titles with not much exposure outside their homelands, and a others with great premise but equally unknown quality. Thankfully for SydneysBuzz readers, the list below compiles all 67 Foreign Submissions and includes links to more information and a link to the trailer of every single one of them. For the most part the clips are subtitled; the ones that are not will at least give the reader a sense of what the film is about. As the Awards Season develops, we will have updates on predicted nominees and other developments in the race for the Best Foreign Language Film.

Argentina

The German Doctor (Wakolda)

Dir: Lucia Puenzo

Language: Spanish, German, Hebrew

U.S Release: Acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard

Trailer

Australia

The Rocket

Dir: Kim Mordaunt

Language: Lao

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin 2013: Best First Feature Film ,Tribeca 2013: World Narrative Competition

Trailer

Austria

The Wall

Dir: Julian Polsler

Language: German

U.S Release: Released by Music Box Films on May 31st, 2013

Festivals: Sitges Ff 2012 Oficial Fantastic, Mumbai Ff 2012 Int'l Competition

Trailer

Bangladesh

Television

Dir: Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Language: Bengali

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Dubai Diff 2012 (Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Special Mention)

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Belgium

The Broken Circle Breakdown

Dir: Felix van Groeningen

Language: Flemish

U.S Release: Tribeca Film Will Release the Film on November 1st, 2013

Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Panorama

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Bosnia And Herzegovina

An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker

Dir: Danis Tanović

Language: Bosnian, Romani

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 Competition, Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema

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Brazil

Neighboring Sounds

Dir: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Language: Portuguese, Mandarin

U.S Release: Released by Cinema Guild, Now Available on Netflix streaming

Festivals:Mar Del Plata Ff 2012 Competencia Int'l, Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2013 Panorama

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Bulgaria

The Color of the Chameleon

Dir: Emil Hristov

Language: Bulgarian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery, Thessaloniki Iff 2012 Int'l Competition

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Cambodia

The Missing Picture

Dir: Rithy Panh

Language: French

U.S Release: Acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Cannes 2013 - Un Certain Regard Prix, San Sebastian 2013 Pearls

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Canada

Gabrielle

Dir: Louise Archambault

Language: French

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto- Tiff 2013, Locarno International Film Festival 2013

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Chile

Gloria

Dir: Sebastian Lelio

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Acquired by Roadside Attractions for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013

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Colombia

La Playa DC

Dir: Juan Andrés Arango

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Released by Artmattan Productions on July 19th, 2013

Festivals:Official Selection Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard, Chicago Iff 2012 New Directors Competition

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Croatia

Halima's Path

Dir: Arsen Anton Ostojić

Language: Bosnian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Tallinn Black Nights Iff 2012 - EurAsia (Special Jury Prize)

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Czech Republic

Burning Bush

Dir: Agnieszka Holland

Language: Czech

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013

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Denmark

The Hunt

Dir: Thomas Vinterberg

Language: Danish

U.S Release: Released by Magnolia Pictures on July 12th

Festivals: Cannes 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012, AFI Fest

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Dominican Republic

Who's the Boss?

Dir: Ronni Castillo

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: N/A

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Egypt

Winter of Discontent

Dir: Ibrahim el-Batout

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2013

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Estonia

Free Range

Dir: Veiko Õunpuu

Language: Estonian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2012

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Finland

The Disciple

Dir: Ulrika Bengts

Language: Finnish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals:Helsinki International Film Festival, Montréal World Film Festival

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France

Renoir

Dir: Gilles Bourdos

Language: French

U.S Release: Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on March 29th, 2013

Festivals: Cannes 2012 Un Certain Regard

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Georgia

In Bloom

Dir: Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß

Language: Georgian

U.S Release: Acquired by Big World Pictures for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Cannes 2013, Cicae award Berlinale Forum 2013

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Germany

Two Lives

Dir: Georg Maas

Language: German

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013, Busan 2013

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Greece

Boy Eating The Bird's Food

Dir: Ektoras Lygizos

Language: Greek

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Discovery

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Hong Kong

The Grandmaster

Dir: Wong Kar-wai

Language: Cantonese, Mandarin

U.S Release: Released by The Weinstein Company on August 23rd, 2013

Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013, Cannes 2013

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Hungary

The Notebook

Dir: Janosz Szasz

Language: Hungarian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema

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Iceland

Of Horses and Men

Dir: Benedikt Erlingsson

Language: Icelandic

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Sundance 2013

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India

The Good Road

Dir: Gyan Correa

Language: Gujarati

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: London Indian Film Festival in 2013

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Iran

The Past

Dir: Asghar Farhadi

Language: French, Persian

U.S Release: Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on December 20th, 2013

Festivals:Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Actress, Toronto - Tiff 2013

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Israel

Bethlehem

Dir: Yuval Adler

Language: Hebrew

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery, Cannes 2013 , Berlin Efm 2013

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Italy

The Great Beauty

Dir: Paolo Sorrentino

Language: Italian

U.S Release: Acquired by Janus Films for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Berlin Efm 2013,

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Japan

The Great Passage

Dir: Yuya Ishii

Language: Japanese

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Fantasia Ff 2013 Official Selection, Cannes 2013

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Kazakhstan

The Old Man

Dir: Ermek Tursunov

Language: Russian, Kazakh

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: N/A

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Latvia

Mother, I Love You

Dir: Janis Nords

Language: Latvian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2013, Los Angeles Film Festival 2013

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Lebanon

Ghadi

Dir: Amin Dora

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: N/A

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Lithuania

Conversations on Serious Topics

Dir: Giedrė Beinoriūtė

Language: Lithuanian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013

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Luxembourg

Blind Spot

Dir: Christophe Wagner

Language: Luxembourgish, French

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2012

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Mexico

Heli

Dir: Amat Escalante

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition-Won Best Director, San Sebastian 2013 Horizontes Latinos,

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Montenegro

Bad Destiny

Dir: Draško Đurović

Language: Serbo-Croatian

U.S Release: Acquired by Princ Films for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Toronto- Tiff 2013, Busan 2013

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Morocco

God's Horses

Dir: Nabil Ayouch

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2012, Bif London Film Festival 2012

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Nepal

Soongava: Dance of the Orchids

Dir: Subarna Thapa

Language: Nepalese

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2012, Berlin Efm 2013

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The Netherlands

Borgman

Dir: Alex van Warmerdam

Language: Dutch

U.S Release: Acquired by Drafthouse Films for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Competition, Busan 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013

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New Zealand

White Lies

Dir: Dana Rotberg

Language: Maori

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: N/A

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Norway

I Am Yours

Dir: Iram Haq

Language: Norwegian, Urdu

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto-tiff 2013

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Pakistan

Zinda Bhaag

Dir: Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi

Language: Udu, Punjabi

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: N/A

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Palestine

Omar

Dir: Hany Abu-Assad

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Un Certain Regard, Toronto-tiff 2013

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Peru

The Cleaner

Dir: Adrian Saba

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Palm Springs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival

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Philippines

Transit

Dir: Hannah Espia

Language: Filipino, Tagalog, Hebrew

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cinemalaya Film Festival 2013

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Poland

Walesa

Dir: Andrzej Wajda

Language: Polish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2013, Venice- Biennale 2013

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Portugal

Lines of Wellington

Dir: Valeria Sarmiento

Language: Portuguese, English, French

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Venice - Biennale 2012 Competition, Toronto - Tiff 2012

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Romania

Child's Pose

Dir: Calin Peter Netzer

Language: Romanian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlinale - Efm 2013 - Competition (Golden Bear for the Best Film), Toronto - Tiff 2013 Contemporary World Cinema

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Russia

Stalingrad

Dir: Fedor Bondarchuk

Language: Russian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: N/A

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Saudi Arabia

Wadjda

Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour

Language: Arabic

U.S Release: Released by Sony Pictures Classics on September 13th, 2013

Festivals: Cannes 2012, Venice International Film Festival 2012, Los Angeles Film Festival, Toronto-tiff 2013

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Serbia

Circles

Dir: Srdan Golubovic

Language: Serbian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlinale - Efm 2013 Forum, Cannes 2013

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Singapore

Ilo Ilo

Dir: Anthony Chen

Language: Mandarin, Hokkien, English, Tagalog

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2013 Directors Fortnight, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Discovery

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Slovakia

My Dog Killer

Dir: Mira Fornay

Language: Slovak

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Berlin Efm 2013, Cannes 2013, Busan 2013

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Slovenia

Class Enemy

Dir: Rok Biček

Language: Slovene

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto-tiff 2013

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Spain

15 Years and One Day

Dir: Gracia Querejeta

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: San Sebastian 2013 Made in Spain, Berlin Efm 2013

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South Africa

Four Corners

Dir: Ian Gabriel

Language: Afrikaans, Tsotsitaal

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals:N/A

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South Korea

Juvenile Offender

Dir: Kang Yi-kwan

Language: Korean

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Contemporary World Cinema,

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Sweden

Eat Sleep Die

Dir: Gabriela Pichler

Language: Swedish, Croatian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Venice International Film Festival 2012, Toronto - Tiff 2012

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Switzerland

More Than Honey

Dir: Markus Imhoof

Language: German, Mandarin

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto - Tiff 2012 Tiff Docs, Cannes 2013, Berlin Efm 2013

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Taiwan

Soul

Dir: Mong-Hong Chung

Language: Mandarin

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Cannes 2013, Toronto - Tiff 2013 Vanguard

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Thailand

Countdown

Dir: Nattawut Poonpiriya

Language: Thai

U.S Release: Acquired by Birch Tree Entertainment for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Cannes 2013, Far East Film Festival 2013

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Turkey

The Butterfly's Dream

Dir: Yılmaz Erdoğan

Language: Turkish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Istanbul Film Festival, Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival

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Ukraine

Paradjanov

Dir: Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova

Language: Russian

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Toronto 2013

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United Kingdom

Metro Manila

Dir: Sean Elllis

Language: Filipino, Tagalog

U.S Release: Acquired by Paladin/108 Media for U.S Distribution

Festivals: Sundance 2013 World Dramatic, Berlin Efm 2012, Cannes 2012, Afm 2012, Berlin Efm 2013

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Venezuela

Breach in the Silence

Dir: Luis and Andrés Rodríguez

Language: Spanish

U.S Release: Tba

Festivals: Ventana Sur 2012, Festival de Mar del Plata "Panorama Latinomaericano"

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New entries from Argentina, Denmark, Lebanon, Lithuania and Peru.

Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.

Last year, a record 71 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Austrian entry Amour, directed by Michael Haneke.

An initial nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 16, 2014.

Submissions

* = new additions

* Argentina, Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo

Australia, The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt

Austria, The Wall, Julian Pölsler

Bangladesh, Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen

Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanović

Brazil, Neighbouring Sounds, Kleber Mendonça Filho

Bulgaria, The Colour of the Chameleon, Emil Hristov

Canada, Gabrielle, Louise Archambault

Chile, Gloria, Sebastián Lelio

Colombia, La Playa DC, Juan Andrés Arango

Croatia, Halima’s Path...

It had been a while since I last updated the list of films submitted for the 2014 Oscar race for Best Foreign Language Feature, but today I bring you 21 new titles as the list has now grown to 57 total films. Perhaps the most notable of the films added today is Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt starring Mads Mikkelsen. The film played the 2012 Cannes Film Festival but it wasn't released in the Netherlands until late October last year, which means it missed the eligibility date by about a month. The Hunt won Mikkelsen the award for Best Actor in Cannes last year and I finally saw it earlier this year, calling it "one of the best films of the year" with a "masterclass performance from Mikkelsen." You can read my full review here. Additional titles worth of note include Hong Kong's submission of Wong Kar-wai's The Grandmaster and Italy's submission of...

Telefilm Canada has elected to submit Gabrielle as its foreign language Oscar submission.

Canada has a strong recent track record in the category and has delivered a nominee in each of the last three Academy Awards in the shape of War Witch, Monsieur Lazhar and Incendies.

Quebecois Louise Archambault directed Gabrielle and the producers are Luc Déry and Kim McCraw of Montreal-based micro_scope, the company behind Incendies and Monsieur Lazhar.

Click here for Best Foreign-Language Film Academy Award submissions 2013

The film tells of a gifted young woman who falls for a fellow singer in her special needs choir.

eOne Films launched international sales at Berlin’s Efm in February.

The nominations for the 2014 Academy Awards will be announced on Jan 16, 2014. The 86th Oscar Ceremony will take place on March 2, 2014.

Telefilm Canada has elected to submit Gabrielle as its foreign language Oscar submission.

Canada has a strong recent track record in the category and has delivered a nominee in each of the last three Academy Awards in the shape of War Witch, Monsieur Lazhar and Incendies.

Quebecois Louise Archambault directed Gabrielle and the producers are Luc Déry and Kim McCraw of Montreal-based micro_scope, the company behind Incendies and Monsieur Lazhar.

The film tells of a gifted young woman who falls for a fellow singer in her special needs choir.

eOne Films launched international sales at Berlin’s Efm in February.

Toronto – Canada has chosen Louise Archambault's Gabrielle as its contender in the best foreign language film category at the upcoming Academy Awards. The drama about a about a developmentally challenged woman’s quest for independence and sexual freedom bowed in Locarno, where it won an audience award. The Quebec film then had a North American premiere in Toronto. The French language romancer stars newcomer Gabrielle Marion-Rivard in a semi-autobiographical role where she performs opposite Alexandre Landry as her lover. Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant unveiled Canada's Oscar choice during a press conference in Montreal. The Canadian film

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International Competition

Golden Leopard - Story of My Death, directed by Albert Serra

Special Jury Prize - What Now? Remind Me, directed by Joaquim Pinto

Best Director - Hong Sang-soo, Our Sunhi

Best Actor - Fernando Bacilio, El Mudo

Best Actress - Brie Larson, Short Term 12

Special Jury Mentions - Short Term 12, directed by Destin Cretton; Tableau Noir, directed by Yves Yersin

Check out our Notebook coverage of What Now? Remind Me (x2) and Short Term 12.

Filmmakers of the Present

Golden Leopard for Filmmakers of the Present - Manakamana, directed by Pacho Velez & Stephanie Spray

Best Emerging Filmmaker - Costa da Morte, directed by Lois Patiño

Special Jury Prize - Mouton, directed by Gilles Deroo & Marianne Pistone

Check out our Notebook coverage of Manakamana.

Opera Prima

Best First Film - Mouton, directed by Gilles Deroo & Marianne Pistone

Special Mention - Manakamana, directed by Pacho Velez & Stephanie Spray...

Europa Cinemas Label awarded to Tableau Noir; Fipresci prize goes to What Now? Remind Me. Talk of Marco Mueller’s return with new Palazzo project.Scroll down for full list of winners

Catalan director Albert Serra was the surprise winner of this year’s Golden Leopard in Locarno for a historical drama with a difference, Story Of My Death.

Described by Serra by as “a movie about the beauty of horror, and also about the horror of beauty,” Story Of My Death imagines an encounter between Casanova of 18th rationalism and Count Dracula from the romantic 19th century.

French co-producer Capricci Films is handling international sales on the Spanish-French co-production which will be screened in Toronto’s Wavelengths programme next month.

However, films tipped for Leopard statuettes such as Claire Simon’s Gare du Nord and David Wnendt’s Wetlands were passed over by the International Jury headed by Filipino director Lav Diaz. Moreover, local...

A talented young singer with Williams syndrome simply falls in love in Gabrielle, the second fiction feature of French-Canadian filmmaker Louise Archambault. But despite the fact that the feelings are mutual, being with her object of affection isn’t that simple -- not in the least because the families of the lovebirds with developmental disorders are protective of their adult-age children to an extreme degree. Gabrielle is at once a classical romance, in which outside forces keep two lovers apart, as well as the specific account of the hurdles two grown-up but disabled individuals in love must face. Despite

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