Updated: 2013 Oscar Foreign Language Submissions Total a Record 71 Movies

UPDATE: The official list has been revealed and the total is a record 71 movies. I have updated the list directly below or you can check it out here. The original article follows.

I have been tracking the Oscar Foreign Language submissions again this year, as I have for the past several years, and it looks like we finally have a full field as I expect we will be seeing an official press release from the Academy some time this week. This year we have five more submissions already over last year as the total has now reached 68 submissions compared to last year’s 63. This, despite, Iran boycotting the Oscars this year due to the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked so much controversy as of late.

To reach the total of 68 films I have just finished adding 16 more titles to the list from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, China, Georgia, Greenland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and Uruguay. To siphon out front-runners is never easy in this category, though there are a few that stick out immediately.

First off, at this time I have a hard time believing Austria’s submission of Michael Haneke‘s Amour isn’t considered the one to beat. Not only will the film be considered in the Best Foreign Language category, but it has a good shot at Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Original Screenplay. Then again, perhaps those possibilities will hurt its chances here, the Foreign Language group has been known to be a prickly bunch.

Though I haven’t seen it yet, France’s submission of The Intouchables from directors Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache has got to be taken seriously considering they chose it over Jacques Audiard‘s Rust and Bone starring Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts. Not only that, Intouchables also has The Weinstein Co. in its corner, and come Oscar time that never hurts.

Pablo Larrain‘s No starring Gael Garcia Bernal has received kudos everywhere it has been from Cannes to Toronto and it should be looked at as a serious contender as well out of Chile. Denmark’s submission of A Royal Affair over Thomas Vinterberg‘s The Hunt shouldn’t be taken lightly. While The Hunt seemed to inspire a divided reaction, it had some people strongly in its corner coming out of Cannes.

It’s worth keeping an eye on Cristian Mungiu‘s Beyond the Hills after Mungiu was shafted for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days a few years back.

Finally, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang‘s Headshot ought to be considered one to look at, especially after Manhola Dargis even came out favoring it.

Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine and we won’t know the short list of films until some time around mid-January. So, for now, have a look below and see what titles strike your interest. The links in blue lead you to the film information on IMDb and the red links take you to the individual pages for each film here on RopeofSilicon.

Afghanistan to France