VARIETY: OSCARS SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED IN NINE CATEGORIES

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlists for nine categories for the upcoming Oscars. The categories and number of films include documentary feature (15), documentary short subject (10), international feature (15), makeup and hairstyling (10), original score (15), original song (15), animated short film (10), live action short film (10) and visual effects (10).

The shortlist voting concluded on Feb. 5, and the remaining will move on to the official phase one voting, which will take place on March 5-9. The Oscar nominations will be announced on March 15, with the show scheduled to take place on April 25.

The full lists are below with snubs and surprises:

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Fifteen films will advance to the next round of voting in the international feature film category. Films from 93 countries were eligible in the category, the most in Oscars history. Academy members from all branches were invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting and must have met a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category. In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.

• “Another Round” (Denmark) – directed Thomas Vinterberg
• “Better Days” (Hong Kong) – directed by Derek Tsang
• “Charlatan” (Czech Republic) – directed by Agnieszka Holland
• “Collective” (Romania) – directed by Alexander Nanau
• “Dear Comrades!” (Russia) – directed by
• “I’m No Longer Here” (Mexico) – directed by Fernando Frias
• “Hope” (Norway) – directed by Maria Sødahl
• “La Llorona” (Guatemala) – directed by Jayro Bustamante
• “The Mole Agent” (Chile) – directed by Maite Alberdi
• “Night of the Kings” (Ivory Coast) – Philippe Lacôte
• “Quo Vadis, Aida?” (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – directed by Jasmila Žbanić
• “Sun Children” (Iran) – directed by Majid Majidi
• “Two of Us” (France) – directed by Filippo Meneghetti
• “A Sun” (Taiwan) – directed by Chung Mong-hong
• “The Man Who Sold His Skin” (Tunisia) – directed by Kaouther Ben Hania

PREDICTION TALLY: 12/15
This was a close race. There was chatter about “The Man Who Sold His Skin” doing very well with Academy members, but also concerns that not enough would see it. Guess I was wrong there, but all the usual suspects are still in the running. Spain is usually one of the default choices and with the power of Netflix behind it, I thought it would have a fighting chance. Despite playing film festivals, Poland also missed out on making the shortlist this year.

SNUB: “The Endless Trench” (Spain) and “Never Gonna Snow Again” (Poland)

SURPRISE: “Better Days” (Hong Kong) and “The Man Who Sold His Skin” (Tunisia)

View the full Variety article here.