Indie studios IFC Films and Neon are facing off with the hopes of one of their films being selected as Frances official submission to the Oscars for the international feature film prize.
Neon aims to position Palme dOr winner Anatomy of a Fall as the best option for the country. IFC is making its case for The Taste of Things from French-Vietnamese filmmaker Trn Anh Hn, who won the director prize at Cannes. Both films have eerily similar credentials as they seek to represent the Gallic state at the 95th annual Academy Awards.
The courtroom drama Anatomy was announced as part of the Telluride program, where all four of its screenings were sold out, with dozens of patrons being turned away. Taste was not part of the festivals initial slate announcement. It was one of the surprise TBA screenings that Telluride tends to program every year (others this year included Sony Classics animated film They Shot the Piano Player).
Taste is a film made for foodies. It played to two packed houses on Saturday and Sunday. Both movies are headed to more fests including Toronto, the New York Film Festival and other planned stops. The decision on Frances Oscar submission will be made by the Centre national de la cinmatographie, affiliated with the French Ministry of Culture. Some new and recognizable names are among the committee tasked with steering the process, including former Lionsgate executive Patrick Wachsberger and composer Alexandre Desplat, a two-time Oscar winner.
And here lies a nations dilemma.
Cannes is one of the most prestigious festivals in the world where the Palme dOr has carried many films to awards glory like Bong Joon-hos best picture winner Parasite (2019), which was also distributed by Neon.
In 2021, France opted for Neons high-octane car-mutation thriller Titane by Julia Ducournau, who became the first solo woman director to win the Palme. With many critics acknowledging it was a hard sell for Oscar voters, many rooted that year for IFCs abortion drama Happening from Audrey Diwan, to be the countrys selection.
When youre a country facing scrutiny over gender equality in many sectors, including the film and TV arenas, how could you note choose the first female Palme winner for a solo effort. But Titane failed to make the international feature film shortlist of 15 films. Happening mounted its own awards campaign around its U.S. release for the 2022 season but it was shutout by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters.
France has submitted 67 films for Oscar consideration going back to the categorys inception (as foreign film) in 1956. Of those films, 38 have achieved Oscar nominations, the most of any country. France has won nine times, second to Italys 11. But France has been suffering through a 30 year drought when it comes to bringing home the gold. France hasnt won the statuette since Indochine (1992), and its clear that national hopes are high that the 2023 race may finally be the year.
The French committee faces a complicated decision, with each film having pros and cons in its ability to compete in the Oscar heat. In addition, with new Academy Awards competition rules instituted this year, now stipulating the opt-in member selection committees must comprise at least 50% filmmakers (artists and/or craftspeople), there will be X-factors affecting the process this year for sure.
Anatomy is getting the full FYC push from Neon, in categories beyond international feature. The distributor aims to grab recognition for Triet for director and original screenplay, along with a mention for lead actress Sandra Hller. Hller has dual contenders in the international feature race this year as the star of A24s The Zone of Interest, which is the frontrunner for the U.K.
Anatomy is a strong piece of filmmaking that I suspect, at minimum, will find Hller in the mix for her first Oscar nom. She seems to be a quintessential future winner of NYFCC and LAFCA. Im curious to read how much of the film is not in English. Academy rules state in order to be eligible, at least 50% of a films dialogue must be spoken in a language other than English. While I believe Anatomy clears the mark, I wonder if the language factor will have any affect on voters?
With Taste, it has the familiarity of one of the countrys most revered actress, Oscar-winner Juliette Binoche, delivering another standout performance. IFC vows to seek nominations in all eligible categories. It could find its way into the discussion for adapted screenplay and obviously for director, following Trn Anh Hns win at Cannes. If nominated for best picture, it would be IFCs first since Boyhood (2014). The film is also co-distributed by Sapan Studio.
Director Anh Hng was born in South Vietnam. In 1975, he immigrated to France at the age of 12, following the fall of Saigon and the end of Vietnams civil war. When it comes to Oscar submissions, France has leaned heavily toward French-born filmmakers. The last two non-French-born directors behind international feature submissions were Paul Verhoeven (2016s Elle) and 2022s Saint Omer from Alice Diop. Both failed to land a nomination.
Ask the strategist behind campaigns for Anatomy and Taste and both will say their movie is the safer and stronger title to go the distance to a win. Truth is, its going to be a very dynamic and strong year yet again. Films like Japans Perfect Days and Finlands Fallen Leaves, which also screened at Cannes and Telluride, are expected to be viable contenders.
France will announce its five-film shortlist this week. Its expected to include Johnny Depps comeback movie Jeanne du Barry, directed by Maiwenn.
Academy members choose to opt-in to watch and vote for the international feature submission. Preliminary voting for the international feature shortlist begins in December, with 15 films being announced on prior to the start of nomination voting in January.
Read:VarietysAwards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.