This year, out of the 94 films submitted by the candidate countries for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film – and in addition to Saint Omer, which represents France – 22 films are French productions or coproductions, among which four are 100% French or majority-French coproductions.
The 2017 record (27 films with a French coproduction share out of the 92 submitted to the AMPAS for Best International Feature Film, including four majority-French films) has not been beaten, but the presence this year of 23 films with French production or coproduction credits, which is to say nearly a quarter of the 94 films submitted, and especially five majority-French films (including Saint Omer), testifies yet again to the great vitality of France's international production companies, very involved in coproductions, some of which benefit from the CNC's Aide aux Cinémas du Monde fund dedicated to international coproductions.
The designation of the films competing for the statuette goes through successive stages, with a first short-list (fifteen films) announced on December 21. The final list of 10 films then follows on January 24, with the Oscars ceremony taking place on March 12.
Saint Omer, the film chosen to represent France, is not included in the list below. French production companies are mentioned for each film as well as, if applicable, the French international sales agents.
Majority-French films appear in bold and are underlined.
- Algeria: Our Brothers by Rachid Bouchareb (3B Productions, France 2 Cinéma, Goodfellas, Le Pacte, international sales: Goodfellas)
- Austria: Corsage by Marie Kreutzer (Kazak Productions, international sales: mk2 films)
- Belgium: Close by Lukas Dhont (Diaphana)
- Bolivia: Utama by Alejandro Loayza Grisi (Alpha Violet + international sales)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Balada by Aida Begic (Les Films de l'Après-Midi)
- Cambodia: Return to Seoul by Davy Chou (Aurora Films, international sales mk2 films)
- Chile: Blanquita by Fernando Guzzoni (Bonne Pioche Cinéma)
- Colombia: The Kings of the World by Laura Mora (Tu Vas Voir)
- Denmark: Holy Spider by Ali Abbasi (Goodfellas, Why Not Productions, international sales Goodfellas)
- India: Last Film Show by Pan Nalin (Incognito Films, Virginie Films, international sales Orange Studio)
- Italy: Nostalgia by Mario Martone (Rosebud Entertainment Pictures)
- Japan: Plan 75 by Chie Hayakawa (Urban Factory, international sales Urban Sales)
- Lebanon: Memory Box by Khalil Joreige & Joana Hadjithomas (Haut et Court, international sales Playtime)
- Luxembourg: Icarus by Carlo Vogele (Rezo Productions, international sales BAC Films)
- Morocco: The Blue Caftan by Maryam Touzani (Les Films du Nouveau Monde)
- Palestine: Mediterranean Fever by Maha Haj (Still Moving, international sales Luxbox)
- Paraguay : Eami by Paz Encina (MPM Film, Eaux Vives Productions, international sales MPM Premium)
- Portugal: Alma Viva by Cristèle Alves Meira (Fluxus Films, international sales Kinology)
- Sweden: Boy From Heaven by Tarik Saleh (Memento Production, international sales Memento International)
- Tunisia: Under the Fig Trees by Erige Sehiri (Maneki Films, international sales Luxbox)
- Turkey: Kerr by Tayfun Pirselimoglu (Arizona Productions)
- Uruguay: The Employer and the Employee by Manuel Nieto Zas (Paraiso Production)
