Films from 13 Latin American Countries Compete for Oscar Nomination

The deadline to submit a movie for the Best International Feature Film category at the 94^th annual Academy Awards is Monday. There are 13 films from Latin America among the 79 countries competing for one of the five Oscar nominations.

The short list of nominated films will be announced on December 21, 2021. The five final nominees will be announced on February 8, 2022. The winners of the Oscar will be announced at the Academy Awards on March 27, 2022.

Here are the Latin American film submissions:

The first Latin American submission was made by Ecuador, with the film “Sumergible.” Directed by Alfredo León León, the movie tells the story of an artisanal narco-submarine with a valuable and secret cargo on board that is on the verge of sinking. Despite submitting 10 films in the past, Ecuador has yet to have a film nominated for an Oscar, according to Indiewire.  

Mexico submitted Tatiana Huezo’s film “Prayers for the Stolen.” The film was produced by Netflix and debuted at Cannes. It is a coming-of-age film that follows the lives of three girls living in a village ruled by narcos and human traffickers.

Brazil picked “Private Desert,” a film that debuted at the Venice Film Festival and has not yet been distributed in the U.S. This Brazilian drama directed by Aly Muritiba tells the story of a policeman who searches for his online lover who mysteriously disappeared.

Argentina selected “The Intruder.” A thriller based on the novel by C.E. Feiling and directed by Natalia Meta. Starring Erica Rivas from "Wild Tales," the movie is about a young woman who faces an identity crisis after losing her partner.

Colombia’s Oscar submission was “Memoria,” a film written and directed by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul. While this film was Colombia’s submission, it was a production involving several other countries, including Thailand, France, Germany, Mexico and China. Starring Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton, the film follows a Scottish woman who hears strange sounds while traveling in Colombia.

Chile submitted “White on White,” a Spanish-Chilean production directed and co-written by Théo Court. The film tells the story of a wedding photographer who becomes obsessed with a bride-to-be.

Costa Rica chose the film “Clara Sola.” This drama directed and co-written by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén follows a 40-year-old woman who has a sexual awakening after living a religious life.

Paraguay selected the documentary “Nothing But the Sun,” directed by Arami Ullón. The documentary is about Mateo Sobode Chiqueno, an indigenous man who has spent 40 years collecting stories, interviews and songs of the Ayoreo people.

Other Latin American countries that submitted a film include Bolivia (“The Great Movement”), Panama (“Plaza Catedral”), Peru (“Manco Cápac”), Uruguay (“The Broken Glass Theory”), and Venezuela (“The Inner Glow”).

Of the Latin American countries that have submitted a film for the Academy Awards, Mexico has submitted 53, making it the Latin American country with the most submissions. Out of these, Mexico has had films nominated for the Oscars nine times, and has won one award in 2018 with Alfonso Cuarón’s "Roma."

Argentina is the Latin American country that has won in the Best International Film category the most times. First in 1985 with “The Official Story,” then in 2009 with “The Secret in Their Eyes,” reports Remezcla.