83 Nations Receive Oscar Foreign Language Consideration Invitations

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 83 countries to submit films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 79th Academy Awards, the organization announced Tuesday. To qualify for the 2006 awards year, a film must be released in the submitting country between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006 and be publicly screened in 35mm or 70mm film for at least seven consecutive days in a commercial motion picture theater. The dialogue track must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English. Accurate English subtitles are required. Entry forms must be received at the Academy by Monday, October 2, 2006, and film prints must be received by Friday, October 13. Only one picture will be accepted from each country. Since the category's establishment in 1956, 102 different countries have submitted films to compete for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The 1956 award went to Italy for "La Strada." Most recently, the South African film "Tsotsi" won the Oscar. Countries that have not received letters of invitation and are interested in submitting a film for consideration should contact Awards Coordinator Torene Svitil at (310) 247-3000, ext. 116 or via email at tsvitil@oscars.org. [Brian Brooks]