News

63 countries have now announced their Oscar submissions. Last year we had 65 films and the most ever, if my data is correct, was 2008 in which 67 countries competed for the coveted 5 slots. (If 10 is the number for Best Picture, shouldn't the corresponding prize for subtitled features, also be 10? ) In other words, numbers-wise, we're just about finished. The deadline has already passed but some countries are quiet about their submissions. The "official" official list will arrive any minute now... or next week depending on the speed with which AMPAS does their paperwork. Soon is the point.

A naked blue moment from Puerto Rico's Miente a.k.a. Lie. Spanish is the

language to know in this category. 11 of the 63 entries are in Spanish!

I've updated all the pages so you can see the info. The major contending countries, those frequently in the hunt, have all announced their representative films.

Afghanistan to France

(23 films.

Cologne, Germany -- French producer Lauranne Bourrachot ("A Prophet"), Greece's Yorgos Tsourgiannis ("Dogtooth") and Alvaro Alonso of Spain ("The Orange Girl") are among the 23 up-and-comers named for this year's Producers on the Move program in Cannes.

Producers on the Move runs May 15-18 during the Cannes Film Festival and brings together some of Europe's most promising behind-the-scenes talent with an eye to creating cross-border networking opportunities.

  This year's top 23 (each European country picks its own up-and-comer) includes Kamen Kalev, the Bulgarian director/producer of Tokyo Film Fest winner "Eastern Plays;" Serbia's Jelena Mitrovic, whose credits include Antonio Nuic's "Donkey" and upcoming World War I drama "Besa" and Isabelle Stead, the Brit producer of Sundance entry "Son of Babylon."

Organizers European Film Promotion claim nearly 50% of Producers on the Move participants over the past 11 years have set up co-pros together. Recent success stories include Bettina Brokemper of Germany (Producer on...