I. DEFINITION
A foreign language film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States of America with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.
II. ELIGIBILITY
1. The film must be first released in the country submitting it no earlier than October 1, 2006 and no later than September 30, 2007, and be first publicly exhibited by means of 35mm or 70mm film or in a 24- or 48-frame progressive scan format with a minimum projector resolution of 2048 by 1080 pixels; source image format conforming to SMPTE 428-1-2006 D-Cinema Distribution Master – Image Characteristics; image compression (if used) conforming to ISO/IEC 15444-1 (JPEG 2000), and image and sound file formats suitable for exhibition in commercial Digital Cinema sites for at least seven consecutive days in a commercial motion picture theater for the profit of the producer and exhibitor. It must be advertised and exploited during its eligibility run in a manner considered normal and customary to the industry. The picture need not have been released in the United States.
2. No type of television or Internet transmission may occur at any time prior to the film’s theatrical release.
3. The recording of the original dialogue track as well as the completed film must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English. Accurate English subtitles are required.
4. The submitting country must certify that creative talent of that country exercised artistic control of the film.
5. The Academy will make the final determination in all questions of eligibility.
III. SUBMISSION
1. Every country shall be invited to submit its best film to the Academy. Selection of the best picture from each country shall be made by one organization, jury or committee that should include artists and/or craftspeople from the field of motion pictures. A list of the selection committee members must be submitted to the Academy no later than August 1, 2007.
2. Only one picture will be accepted from each country.
3. The Academy will provide official entry forms to the proper committee in each country so that the producer of the film selected can supply full information on his or her picture. All questions on the forms should be answered as fully as possible.
4. The official entry forms, together with a cast and credits list, a brief synopsis of the film in English, a biography and photograph of the director, still photographs, a poster, and a clipping of public notification of exhibition (such as an advertisement in a newspaper), must be received in the Academy office not later thanMonday, October 1, 2007. Any other fact sheets also may be sent to further document the submission.
5. Prints should be shippedprepaid for award consideration to arrive at the Academy no later thanMonday, October 1, 2007.
6. The print submitted for award consideration must be identical in form with the final version in general release in the country submitting the film.
7. Countries whose films are nominated on January 22, 2008, will be required to provide a second English-subtitled print of the film to facilitate voting screenings. This second print is due at the Academy onFriday, January 25, 2008. This second print will be returned at the conclusion of the voting process.
8. Prints submitted will be retained by the Academy until the voting process is completed and will not be loaned for use by others during the period of the voting process.
9. “Every award shall be conditioned upon the delivery to the Academy of one print or one copy of every film nominated for final balloting for all Academy Awards. Such print or copy shall be in a format and of a quality equivalent to the film’s theatrical release; if a film exists in more than one format, then the version deposited shall be the film print. Such print or copy shall become the property of the Academy, with the proviso, however, that the Academy shall not use such print or copy for commercial gain. Such print or copy shall be deposited with the Academy and, subject to matters not within its control, shall be screened by the Academy for the membership in advance of distribution of final ballots” (Academy Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 6). The Academy will retain for its archives every print chosen as a nomination for final balloting on the Foreign Language Film Award. Those films not chosen as nominees for final balloting will be returned to the sender at Academy expense.
IV. VOTING
1. All submissions sent to the Academy will be screened by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Committee(s). After the screenings, the committee(s) will vote by secret ballot to nominate five foreign language pictures for this award.
2. Final voting for the Foreign Language Film Award shall be restricted to active and life Academy members who have attended Academy screenings, or other exhibition, of all five films nominated for the award.
3. Viewing Foreign Language Film entries on videocassette or DVD will NOT qualify a member for voting purposes in this category.
4. The Academy statuette (Oscar®) will be awarded to the picture and accepted by the director on behalf of the film's creative talents.
V. ADVERTISING / PUBLICITY RESTRICTIONS
Only films that receive nominations or Awards may refer to their Academy endorsements in advertising and publicity materials. A film that is selected for inclusion in the semifinal round competition may not identify itself as an “Academy Award finalist,” “Academy Award shortlist film” or the like.
VI. ELIGIBILITY IN OTHER CATEGORIES
1. Films submitted for Best Foreign Language Film Award consideration may also qualify for the 80th Annual Academy Awards in other categories, provided they meet the requirements of the special rules governing those categories.
2. In order to qualify for other categories, the films must be publicly exhibited by means of 35mm or 70mm film or in the digital format specified in Paragraph II.1 for paid admission (previews excluded) in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County beginning between January 1, 2007, and midnight of December 31, 2007, for a run of at least seven consecutive days.
3. Films nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Award shall not be eligible for Academy Awards consideration in any category in any subsequent Awards year. Submitted films not selected as nominees are eligible for Academy Award consideration in other categories in the subsequent year, provided the film has its Los Angeles opening in that calendar year.
