This is a list of submissions to the 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. The

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...

(AMPAS) has invited the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

every year since the award was created in

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim ...

. The award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue. The Foreign Language Film Award Committee oversees the process and reviews all the submitted films. The submitted motion pictures must be first released theatrically in their respective countries between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2018. The deadline for submissions was 1 October 2018, with the Academy announcing a list of eligible films on 8 October. A total of 89 countries submitted a film, with 87 of those being accepted. Two countries submitted a film for the first time.

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

sent '' The Road to Sunrise'' and

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesThe Wedding Ring''. From the longlist, nine finalists were shortlisted in late 2018, with the final five nominees announced on 22 January 2019. ''

Roma Roma or ROMA may refer to: Places Australia * Roma, Queensland, a town ** Roma Airport ** Roma Courthouse ** Electoral district of Roma, defunct ** Town of Roma, defunct town, now part of the Maranoa Regional Council *Roma Street, Brisbane, a ...

'' by

Alfonso Cuarón Alfonso Cuarón Orozco ( , ; born 28 November 1961) is a Mexican filmmaker. He is known for directing films in a variety of genres including the family drama ''A Little Princess (1995 film), A Little Princess'' (1995), the romantic drama ''Gre ...

won the award, the first Mexican film to do so.

Submissions

Notes

* Honduras were scheduled to announce their film on 21 September 2018. However, they did not submit a film. * Kenya's government was initially sued by director

Wanuri Kahiu Wanuri Kahiu (born 21 June 1980) is a Kenyan film director, producer, and author. She is considered to be “one of Africa's most aspiring directors, being part of a new, vibrant crop of talents representing contemporary African culture”. Sh ...

, whose film ''

Rafiki is a 2018 Kenyan drama film directed by Wanuri Kahiu. ''Rafiki'' is the story of romance that grows between two young women, Kena and Ziki, amidst family and political pressures around LGBT rights in Kenya. The film had its international prem ...

'' was denied a release from the

Kenya Film Classification Board The Kenya Film Classification Board (abbreviated as KFCB) is a state corporation that operates under the Government of Kenya whose mandate is to "regulate the creation, broadcasting, possession, distribution and exhibition of films by rating them ...

for its "clear intent to promote lesbianism in Kenya." Kahiu sued so the film will be eligible as Kenya's submission for Best Foreign Language Film. On 21 September 2018, the Kenyan High Court lifted the ban on the film, allowing it to be screened in the country for seven days, therefore meeting the eligibility requirements. Despite the ban being lifted, it was not selected as Kenya's submission in the Foreign Language Film category, with ''

Supa Modo ''Supa Modo'' is a 2018 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Likarion Wainaina. It first premiered at 68th Berlin International Film Festival. It was selected as the Kenyan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Acade ...

'' being sent instead. * Puerto Rico had asked AMPAS to reconsider its position on allowing submissions from territories and protectorates of the United States. Puerto Rico last submitted a film for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2010, and has been ineligible since.

References

External links

Official website of the Academy Awards
{{Academy Awards 2017 in film 2018 in film 91