Good show for Europe

by Camillo De Marco

27/01/2004 - Four out of the five films nominated for the final shortlist competing for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film are European productions. They are the French-Canadian film Barbarian Invasions [trailer], which has also been nominated in the Best Screenplay category, the Swedish production Evil, the Dutch film Twin Sisters and the Czech Zelary [trailer].

There are two British names competing in the Best Actor category: Ben Kingsley (for his performance in House of Sand and Fog) and Jude Law for Cold Mountain [trailer]. The film directed by Anthony Minghella is also running for the Oscars for Best Director of Photography (John Seale), Best Supporting Actress (Renée Zellweger), Editing and Music.

The Irish, British production, In America, directed by Jim Sheridan has received three nominations for the 2004 Oscars. Sheridan is no stranger to the Oscars, having received a wealth of nominations in the past, including ones for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1990 for My left Foot and once again for the same award in 1994 for In the Name of the Father. Sheridan's new film (following on from his recent producing stints for Bloody Sunday [trailer] and Omagh) has gained a nomination for Samantha Morton in the Best Actress category, while Djimon Hounsou will be competing for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and In America has also been nominated in the Best Original Screenplay category, written by Naomi Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan and Jim Sheridan.

The highly original Belleville Rendez-Vous [trailer] (France - Belgium - Canada) is up against Finding Nemo and Brother Bear in the “Animated Film” category. This is Sylvain Chomet’s third Oscar nomination. The main theme song of the film will also be competing for an Oscar.

There are three nominations for The Girl with the Pearl Earring [trailer] (Britain - Luxembourg): Best Photography, Screenplay and Costumes.

The screenwriter Steven Knight has been nominated for the moving story Dirty Pretty Things [trailer] by Stephen Frears, while the shortlist of five works competing for the Best Documentary Oscar includes the Spanish production Balseros, filmed in Cuba.

Finally there are three European short films in the running for an Oscar: Die Rote Jacke (Germany), Squash (France), A Torzija (Slovenia), as well as an animated short, the French-American production Destino.

The award ceremony for the Oscars will be held on February 29, 2004.

(Translated from Italian)