Arabian Nights wants to make it in Hollywood
by Vitor Pinto
- The second volume of Gomes’ tale of Portugal in times of austerity is entering the Oscars race
Arabian Nights, Volume 2: The Desolate One [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Miguel Gomes
film profile] by Miguel Gomes (read the review and the interview with the director) has been chosen to represent Portugal in the race for the upcoming Oscar for Best Foreign-language Film, the Academy of Portuguese Film announced yesterday evening. The Portuguese Academy jury included producer Paulo Trancoso, director Lauro António, DoP André Szankowski, sound designer Pedro Melo and actor Miguel Monteiro.
The second instalment of Gomes’ surreal trilogy on Portugal in times of austerity premiered at Cannes last May and is scheduled for local theatrical distribution on 24 September.
Released locally on 27 August (read more), the first instalment, The Restless One [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Miguel Gomes
film profile], became the third most-seen Portuguese feature of the year, grossing nearly €32,200 so far.
The whole trilogy has already been released in France and will open soon in other territories. SVoD service MUBI will release the film in theatres across the UK and Ireland, and it will then show it online.
If The Desolate One makes it onto the shortlist, it will become the first Portuguese film ever to compete for an Academy Award. The nominees will be unveiled on 14 January 2016, while the ceremony will take place on 28 February in Los Angeles.
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