Cristian Mungiu's Beyond the Hills on the list for Foreign Oscar

Scene from Beyond the Hills. In the centre, Cosmina Stratan

Nine new foreign language films are vying for the top prize in international cinema at the 85th Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences narrowed the list after receiving 71 entries from various countries around the world.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

  •   Austria, "Amour," Michael Haneke, director
  •   Canada, "War Witch," Kim Nguyen, director
  •   Chile, "No," Pablo Larraín, director
  •   Denmark, "A Royal Affair," Nikolaj Arcel, director
  •   France, "The Intouchables," Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, directors
  •   Iceland, "The Deep," Baltasar Kormákur, director
  •   Norway, "Kon-Tiki," Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, directors
  •   Romania, "Beyond the Hills," Cristian Mungiu, director
  •   Switzerland, "Sister," Ursula Meier, director

The five nominees for the Foreign Language Film Award will be chosen by a committee and the nominations will be announced on January 10, 2013. The Oscars  will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2013.

Details on www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20121221.html

It is the first time a Romanian film was chosen for the Oscars shortlist (see source here, Romanian only). 

Beyond the Hills was the opening film of the Romanian Film Festival in London, 9th edition. It was screened in front of a full house on the evening of 22 November 2012, and was followed by a Q&A with actresses Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur, winners of the award for best actress at Cannes Film Festival, 2012.