The 2009 foreign-language Oscar race has begun in earnest, with submissions expected to top the 63 films that vied for the 2008 prize and under new rules that could result in the race being more inclusive than in years past. As always, the foreign-language lineup is an eclectic mix, with big-budget epics rubbing shoulders with tiny art house gems. To keep you up to speed, The Hollywood Reporter provides this handy cheat sheet, updated regularly, on who's in the running. Feel free to use the comments section to discuss your pick.Afghanistan "Opium War," Siddiq BarmakBarmak's film, which will screen in competition at the Rome International Film Festival in October, received postproduction funding in 2007 from the Korean Film Council. That honor brought Barmak to the Pusan International Film Festival to screen the finished film.Albania "The Sorrow of Mrs. Schneider," Piro Milkani and Eno MilkaniAlgeria "Masquerades," Lyes SalemArgentina "Lion's Den" (Leonera), Pablo Trapero Click here for film reviewTrapero's indie film, which revolves around Argentinean women raising their toddlers in jail, screened in Competition at the Festival de Cannes in May, in the Contemporary World Cinema sidebar at Toronto and joins the AFI lineup for this fall. Austria "Revanche," Gotz Spielmann Click here for film reviewThis unconventional story of guilt and revenge won top honors from both the Label of European Cinemas and the International Confederation of Art Cinemas in Berlin this year. It is among the 44 titles on the European Film Academy's list for this year's European Film Award.Azerbaijan "Fortress," Shamil NacafzadaBangladesh "Aha!," Enamul Karim NirjharNirjhar's film screened in the Cinema of Asia program at the 2007 Dubai International Film Festival.Belgium "Eldorado," Bouli Lanners Click here for film reviewLanners' dark comedy, a road movie in which a car dealer comes to the aid of an incompetent young burglar, won honors from the Label of European Cinemas and the FIPRESCI international critics' prize at the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes.Bosnia and Herzegovina "Snow" (Snijeg), Aida Begic Click here for film reviewThis film, set in 1997, examines life in a postwar society, mainly from the perspective of two women whose husbands died in the conflict that ripped apart Yugoslavia. It won the Critics Week grand prize at the Festival de Cannes this year and screened in the Toronto International Film Festival's Discovery section.Brazil "Last Stop 174" (Ultima Parada 174), Bruno Barreto Click here for film reviewThis Portuguese-language drama revolves around a mother and son who are separated from each other and get caught up in the June 2000 hijacking of a bus in Rio de Janeiro (the same incident Jose Padilha depicted in his 2002 documentary "Bus 174"). "Last Stop" made its first stop on the festival circuit with a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this year.Bulgaria "Zift," Javor GardevGardev won the Special Jury Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival for his film about a parolee who spent time in prison after a wrongful conviction and now struggles to find his footing in 1960s Sofia.Canada "The Necessities of Life," Benoit PilonDocumentary filmmaker Pilon's debut fiction feature received the Montreal World Film Festival's Special Grand Prix award. The drama, which centers on an Inuit man suffering from tuberculosis in 1950s Quebec, also took home the festival's audience award for most popular Canadian film.Chile "Tony Manero," Pablo Larrain Click here for film reviewCentering on a serial killer obsessed with John Travolta's character in "Saturday Night Fever" in 1978 Santiago, "Tony Manero" screened in the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes in May then made the trek to Toronto and the New York Film Festival.China "Dream Weavers -- Beijing 2008," Gun YuThis documentary of the seven-year preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival in June.Colombia "Dog Eat Dog" (Perro Come Perro), Carlos MorenoThis crime thriller was nominated for the grand jury prize in World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival, and its star Marlon Moreno won the best actor award at the Guadalajara Mexican Film Festival.Croatia "No One's Son" (Niciji sin), Arsen A. OstojicBased on a play by Croatia's Mate Matisic, this drama centers on an ex-rock singer who lost both legs in the Croatian Homeland War. It screened in the market at the Festival de Cannes and picked up five awards at the Pula Croatian and European Film Festival this year.Czech Republic "Karamazovs" (Karamazovi), Petr Zelenka Click here for film reviewZelenka's adaptation of a Czech stage version of "The Brothers Karamazov" expands on Fyodor Dostoyevsky's theme of the moral responsibilities of intellectuals. The film screened in competition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and is slated for the BFI London Film Festival in October.Denmark "Worlds Apart" (To verdener), Niels Arden OplevThe Tribeca Film Festival in March chose this Jehovah's Witness drama for its 30-film Discovery section. The film, which centers on a teen who must choose between her religion and pursuing a relationship with a nonbeliever, had its international premiere in the Generation 14 Plus sidebar at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
more movies for Oscar-->>Speaking Oscar's language
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