04/11/2002 - BAFTA makes history by choosing a Hindi-language film by first-time director Asif Kapadia for foreign Oscar race

For the first time, the BAFTA (the British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has chosen a non-English-language film to represent the UK in the foreign language film category at the 75th edition of the Academy Awards scheduled for 23 March 2003 in Los Angeles.
The Hindi-language film The Warrior, also the directorial debut of Asif Kapadia is the story of a warrior struck by remorse when ordered to attack defenceless villagers. The warrior’s master sends another fighter to kill him. The Warrior is a story of one man’s spiritual journey from the deserts of Rajasthan to the Himalayas.
Despite excellent reviews, The Warrior had a limited release in the UK in May 2002. It was produced by France’s Bertrand Faivre - who also co-produced Lynne Ramsay’s Ratcatcher - with financing from Film Four, British Screen and Senator Film.
Film Four International handled the international sales on the film, closing deals with a number of important distributors like Miramax for the US, Smile for Scandinavia and Belga for Benelux.
On 11 February the Academy will announce the five films that will compete for this year’s best foreign language Oscar.