Finland doesn’t have a strong track record with Oscar voters, but Juho Kuosmanen’s drama about two strangers on a train is expertly made and acted, and with U.S. 6,” which bowed at Cannes and scooped the Grand Prix there. by Zeitgeist Films in association with Kino Lorber, won three big prizes at Sundance and it’s also the kind of film that voters love: a female filmmaker tackling recent history with a universal story and distinct point of view.Īnother strong contender is Finland’s “Compartment No. Blerta Basholli’s directorial feature debut, distributed in the U.S. Also in the race are “Bring Your Own Brigade,” from two-time Oscar nominee Lucy Walker, which revolves around a huge forest fire plaguing the world, and Texas border story “Missing in Brooks County.”Īs every other year, the international film race delivers a vibrant field for voters to choose from, with some riding a strong wave from the 2021 festival circuit.Īmong the buzziest ones are Kosovo’s “Hive,” which debuted in Sundance.

Rita Moreno once again creates a memorable role in the Steven Spielberg version of “West Side Story,” so Roadside Attractions’ “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” (also streaming on Netflix) may see some more interest.

Netflix’s “Procession,” about a group of survivors abused by Catholic priests, has started to gain momentum. Prolific Amazon Studios’ “Mayor Peter” and “Val” are immersive portraits of public figures, while HBO Max’s “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street” are quirky crowd-pleasers in the mix. That duo could also be nominated for Amazon Studios’ “My Name Is Pauli Murray” and if so, make history. Another crowd-pleaser is “Julia,” from Oscar nominees Betsy West and Julie Cohen (“RBG”) that Sony Pictures Classics is distributing. Music may overtake the shortlist this year as at least three strong contenders have electrified filmgoers: QuestLove’s “Summer of Soul,” which came out of Sundance on a rave wave Todd Haynes’ Cannes-bowing “The Velvet Underground,” from Apple Original Films and Edgar Wright’s “The Sparks Brothers,” from Focus Features. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, who won an Oscar for “Free Solo.” NatGeo’s lineup includes John Hoffman and Janet Tobias’ “Fauci,” Matthew Heineman’s “The First Wave” and two docs already racking up awards season kudos: Liz Garbus’ “Becoming Cousteau” and “The Rescue” from E. “Flee” can also grab noms in animation and international feature. This category once again offers up an embarrassment of riches, with films such as Denmark’s “Flee” leading the pack - the Sundance winner recently won a Gotham award.

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