Oscars: 9 foreign-language films make academy shortlist

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has winnowed 63 eligible foreign-language films down to nine potential contenders for the best foreign-language film at the 2012 Oscars. Golden Globe winner ‘A Separation’ made the cut, but China’s Christian Bale-starrer, ‘Flowers of War,’ didn’t make the cut, nor did Mexico’s ‘Miss Bala.’

The nine contenders include:

Belgium’s ‘Bullhead,’ from director Michael R. Roskam

Canada’s ‘Monsieur Lazhar,’ from director Philippe Falardeau

Denmark’s ‘SuperClasico,’ from director Ole Christian Madsen

Germany’s ‘Pina,’ from director Wim Wenders

Iran’s ‘A Separation,’ from director Asghar Farhadi

Israel’s ‘Footnote,’ from director Joseph Cedar

Morocco’s ‘Omar Killed Me,’ from director Roschdy Zem

Poland’s ‘In Darkness,’ from director Agnieszka Holland

Taiwan’s ‘Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale,’ from director Wei Te-sheng

Several hundred Los Angeles-based members screened the 63 eligible films between mid-October and Jan. 13 and chose their six top films. The academy’s Foreign Language Award Executive Committe then added three additional selections to fill out the ultimate shorlist.

Phase two of nominations will involve specially invited committees in New York and Los Angeles to spend Friday through Sunday viewing the three films each day and casting their ballots.

The five nominees will be announced Jan. 24.

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— Nicole Sperling