14/09/2016 - Agnus Dei, Frantz, Elle and Cézanne et moi have been shortlisted and thus take a step closer towards winning the Oscar for Best Foreign-language Film

The committee tasked with choosing the French representative in the race for the Oscar nominations in the Best Foreign-language Film category has unveiled a list of four shortlisted titles. The identity of the movie hoping to duke it out for the coveted statuette (to be handed out on 26 February 2017, following the final selection of nominees on 24 January) will be disclosed on 26 September after a hearing session organised by the committee, which will welcome the producers and international sales agents of the four features going through the second round of voting.

Featuring among the hopefuls are two Mandarin productions: Agnus Dei [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lou de Laâge
film profile] by Anne Fontaine (unveiled at Sundance – 702,000 admissions in France and $1 million in takings at the US box office since its release on 1 July by Music Box Films) and Frantz [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: François Ozon
film profile] by François Ozon (in competition at Venice just recently and singled out with the Marcello Mastroianni Prize for Best New Actress, for Paula Beer – 130,000 viewers during its first five days on the cinema listings in France). Both titles are being sold abroad by Films Distribution and are distributed in the US by Music Box Films.

Another title in the running is Elle [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Paul Verhoeven, revealed in competition at Cannes. The film was produced, was distributed in France (taking a total of 555,000 admissions) and is being sold abroad by SBS, and it has been acquired for the United States by Sony Pictures Classics, which will bring it out on 11 November.

Lastly, a relatively surprising entry rounds off this trio of favourites, with the presence of Cézanne et moi [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Danièle Thompson. The movie will be distributed in France on 21 September by Pathé, which is also in charge of its international sales. The North American rights of this G. Films production have been acquired by Magnolia Pictures.

(Translated from French)