2012 Oscar Predictions: Best Foreign Language Feature

Many, myself included, called 2009 the year of the animated film, while 2010 was the year of the doc. I think 2011 might just be the year of the foreign film. Just looking at this selection of eligible films, the lineup feels a lot strong and more high-profile than in years past. Perhaps that's just this man's perspective, but my list of must-sees for the next few months is jam-packed with films on this list.

Below, you'll find a full list of each participating country's submissions. Many of the films we've likely never heard of. For some of the films, that will change. Many will still likely fade into obscurity.

But first, my predictions. Here are my 5 predicted nominees:

1.) Where Do We Go Now? (Lebanon)

Folks were scratching their heads when this musical dramedy about religious conflicts in Lebanon won the People's Choice Awards at TIFF this year. But most viewers reported having a very emotional response to this film, and just a cursory glance at past Best Foreign Language Oscar winners will show you that is precisely the type of film that usually wins the award.

2.) Le Havre (Finland)
Ditto everything that was said about Where Do We Go Now?, except for the People's Choice Award, the music, the religious conflict, and Lebanon. OK, maybe all the two films have in common is their general crowd-pleasing nature, but that's one important trait for a film in this category, and Le Havre's high profile means it should be taken very seriously as a potential winner.

3.) A Separation (Iran)
Definitely more artistic and complex than the two films ahead of it on this list, Iran's submission is the fastest horse out of the gate this year. It's already won several awards, including the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, the BIFA, and the NYFCC Best Foreign Language Film.

4.) In Darkness (Poland)
This film doesn't quite have the profile of the three preceding it, but it is about the Holocaust, and as anyone who's seen Extras knows, Holocaust = Oscar.

5.) Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
Canada has been a regular nominee lately (see Incendies, among other films), and this one has a very appealing plot description: "An Algerian immigrant is hired to replace an elementary school teacher who died tragically" (courtesy of iMDB).

Other definite contenders include Footnote (Israel), Happy Happy (Norway), The Flowers of War (China), Pina (Germany), Miss Bala (Mexico). Special mention should be made of a few films I think could nab the "Dogtooth slot". As you might recall, the nominating process changed recently, allowing a small committee to select the five nominees. Many were surprised that the out-there and explicit Greek comedy was able to get a nomination, considering the branch typically rewards your standard Oscar fare. Much of Dogtooth's success was attributed to the power of this committee. This year, films like Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (Turkey) and The Turin Horse (Hungary) could very well earn nominations in a similar fashion, but I'm not prepared to put these atypical Oscar movies in any higher position than this.

Now, the promised list of 63 eligible films. Enjoy:

Albania – The Forgiveness of Blood
Argentina – Aballay
Austria – Breathing
Belgium – Bullhead
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Belvedere
Brazil – Tropa de Elite 2
Bulgaria – Tilt
Canada – Monsieur Lazhar
Chile – Violeta Went to Heaven
China – The Flowers of War
Colombia – The Colors of the Mountain
Croatia – 72 Days
Cuba – Habanastation
Czech Republic – Alois Nebel
Denmark – SuperClásico
Dominican Republic – Love Child
Egypt – Lust
Estonia – Letters to Angel
Finland – Le Havre
France – Declaration of War
Georgia – Chantrapas
Germany – Pina
Greece – Attenberg
Hong Kong – A Simple Life
Hungary – The Turin Horse
Iceland – Volcano
India – Adaminte Makan Abu
Indonesia – Under the Protection of Ka’Bah
Iran – A Separation
Ireland – As If I’m Not There
Israel – Footnote
Italy – Terraferma
Japan – Postcard
Kazakhstan – Returning to the ‘A’
Lebanon – Where Do We Go Now?
Lithuania – Back to Your Arms
Macedonia – Punk is Not Dead
Mexico – Miss Bala
Morocco – Omar Killed Me
Netherlands – Sonny Boy
New Zealand – The Orator
Norway – Happy Happy
Peru – October
Philippines – The Woman in the Septic Tank
Poland – In Darkness
Portugal – Jose and Pilar
Romania – Morgen
Russia – Burnt by the Sun 2: Exodus
Serbia – Montevideo, God Bless You
Singapore – Tatsumi
Slovakia – Gypsy
South Africa – Skoonheid
South Korea – The Front Line
Spain – Pa Negre
Sweden – Beyond
Taiwan – Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale
Thailand – Kon Khon
Turkey – Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
United Kingdom – Patagonia
Uruguay – The Silent House
Venezuela – The Rumor of the Stones
Vietnam – Thang Long Aspiration