Austrian drama "Amour," Danish costume drama "A Royal Affair" and French comedy/drama "The Intouchables" were among the 9 films that were selected as possible contenders for best foreign language film honor at the 85th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Friday.
The trio, which received rave reviews from the movie critics and nominated for best foreign language film in the 70th Golden Globes, was joined by Norway's most expensive cinematic production to date, "Kon-Tiki," along with "War Witch" from Canada, "No" from Chile, "The Deep" from Iceland, "Beyond the Hills" from Romania and "Sister" from Switzerland.
Asian contenders including Chinese director Chen Kaige's latest piece "Caught in the Web," a modern-day cyber-bullying drama, and "Life Without Principle" from Hong Kong, "Touch of the Light" from Taiwan, as well as South Korean director Kim Ki-duk's well- reviewed "Pieta" and Japanese writer-director Yang Yonghi's contemporary drama "Our Homeland" have failed to make the list.
Other high-profile hopefuls including "Barbara" from Germany," Caesar Must Die" from Italy and "The Hypnotist" from Sweden were also conspicuously missing from the roster.
The 9 entries were chosen from 71 originally qualified films, a record number, by several hundred Los Angeles-based Academy members in the first phase of the three-step selection. The number will be further downsized to 5 by a group of members before the shortlist will be announced Jan. 10.
The 85th Academy Awards presentation will take place Feb. 24 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California.