Chile Sends Doc ‘The Mole Agent’ To International Oscar Race

Clayton Davis Space and silence are the structural bones of Netflix’s “The Midnight Sky.” Still, the spirit and heart are fixed within its visual decorations and taut narrative that allows director, producer and star George Clooney to examine uncharted and personal territories. Based on the book “Good Morning, Midnight” by Lily Brooks-Dalton, there’s a compelling case to be made that “The Midnight Sky” is his finest hour, both in direction and performance.

Christopher Vourlias Vadim Perelman’s “Persian Lessons” will represent Belarus in the best international feature film race at the 2021 Oscars, Variety has learned.The WWII drama, which world premiered in the Panorama strand of the Berlin Film Festival this year, stars Nahuel Perez Biscayart (“Beats Per Minute”) as a Belgian Jew who narrowly avoids execution by a Nazi firing squad when he claims to be Persian.

Malayalam-language action thriller Jallikattu has been selected by the Film Federation of India to represent the country in this year’s International Oscar race.

Over three years after Fox News Channel retracted its story that a political conspiracy was behind the fatal shooting of Seth Rich in 2016, the Rupert Murdoch-owned outlet has settled its legal battle with the DNC staffer’s family.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentU.K.-based documentary specialist Dogwoof has announced a string of deals for their slate, which includes a topical tale about the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak, three titles in the Best of Fest section at documentary festival IDFA, which runs Nov. 18-Dec.

The Irish Film & Television Academy is sending Tom Sullivan’s Arracht as its entry to the 2021 International Oscar race.

Italy is putting forward Gianfranco Rosi’s latest documentary Notturno as its candidate for the 2021 International Oscar race.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentKaouther Ben Hania’s “The Man Who Sold His Skin” will represent Tunisia in the Oscar race for best international feature film.The movie world premiered at Venice where it won the best actor award for Yahya Mahayni.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFilippo Meneghetti’s feature debut “Two of Us” will represent France in the race for the best international feature film award at the Oscars.“Two of Us” was selected over Maiwenn’s “DNA,” François Ozon’s “Summer 85,” Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh’s “Gagarine” and Maïmouna Doucouré’s “Cuties” which were short-listed.“Two of Us” was released in France on Feb. 12 and was represented in international markets by The Party Film Sales.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterKino Lorber has picked up North American rights to Never Gonna Snow Again, Malgorzata Szumowska’s Polish drama which is representing the country in this year’s International Oscar race. The distributor is lining up a theatrical release in Spring, 2021.The film debuted in competition at Venice this year.

Clayton Davis The road to the Oscars is paved with good intentions, and one of those is for a film’s cast members to seek recognition at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Presented annually by SAG-AFTRA since 1995, the ceremony has become one of the most important precursors in the awards season machine.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentThomas Vinterberg’s award-winning drama “Another Round” has been selected as Denmark’s submission in the Oscars’ international feature film category.Produced by Zentropa, “Another Round” follows four weary high school teachers experimenting with the liberating effects of alcohol. The movie was part of Cannes’ 2020 Official Selection and had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterPop the champagne – the Danish Film Institute is sending Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round to the 2021 International Oscar race.The pic stars Mads Mikkelsen as one of a group of high school teachers who test a theory that they will improve their lives by maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterSouth Africa, Portugal and debutant Sudan are among the latest countries to make submissions to the 2021 International Oscar race.South Africa is putting forward Rene van Rooyen’s Toorbos. The film, which is in Afrikaans, explores the uprooting of a young forest woman and her community during the time of the last inhabitants of South Africa’s Knysna forest of the 1930s.Portugal has submitted Listen from actress and director Ana Rocha de Sousa.

Patrick Hipes Executive Managing EditorThe Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences have chosen Fernando Frías de la Parra’s I’m No Longer Here as Mexico’s official entry for the International Feature Film Oscar race.The pic centers on the young leader (Juan Daniel Garcia Trevino) of a small Monterrey street gang from the Cholombiano subculture who longs for home after being forced to move to Jackson Heights, Queens, after an altercation with a local cartel.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerEXCLUSIVE: Actress Kate Katzman has been cast in Panama, joining Cole Hauser and Mel Gibson in the action thriller, which is being directed by Mark Neveldine (Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance).Set to being shooting next month in Puerto Rico, the pic follows an ex-marine who is tasked to go undercover to complete an arms deal and becomes entangled in the U.S. invasion of Panama.

Clayton Davis One of the most anticipated films of this awards season, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” emerges as one of the premier Oscar vehicles for Netflix. At its soulful core, the farewell performance of the late Chadwick Boseman is as invigorating as anticipated.