96 Countries to Receive Entry Forms for
2008 Foreign Language Film Oscar®

Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences mailed Foreign Language Film award entry forms to 96 countries, facilitating their submissions for the 81st Academy Awards®.

To qualify for the 2008 Awards, a film must be released in the submitting country between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2008, and be publicly screened in 35mm or 70mm film or in a qualifying digital cinema format for at least seven consecutive days in a commercial motion picture theater.

The dialogue track must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English.  Accurate English subtitles are required.

Entry forms and film prints must be received at the Academy by Wednesday, October 1, 2008.  Only one picture will be accepted from each country.

In 2007 the Austrian film “The Counterfeiters” won the Oscar over a field of nominated films from Israel, Kazakhstan, Poland and Russia.

Countries that have not received entry packets but are interested in submitting a film for consideration should contact Awards Coordinator Torene Svitil at (310) 247-3000, ext. 116, or via e-mail at tsvitil@oscars.org.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

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About the Academy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history.  Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Editors: Please note that downloadable photos are available at http://photos.oscars.org.

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