The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday the 15 films selected for the shortlist in the International Feature Film category, narrowed down from a total of 93 submitted films from around the world. Read more on oscars.org.
Among the shortlisted titles is Denmark's 'Another Round', Thomas Vinterberg and Zentropa's drama about four weary high school teachers testing a theory that a constant level of modest inebriation opens our minds to the world.
Danish filmmakers on Tueday's shortlists also include director Elvira Lind, associate producer Sara Stockmann and editor Adam Nielsen on the credits for the US short film 'The Letter Room'.
"Fascinating referendum on booze"
Travelling with the Cannes Festival's prominent Official Selection stamp, 'Another Round' has fared well on the festival circuit, enjoying great critical recognition across the board.
"Thomas Vinterberg's absorbing dark comedy turns into a lively and fascinating referendum on booze, with Mads Mikkelsen's fierce and unsettling performance vibrating at its center," writes IndieWire, highlighting the drama as a "furious and sad movie at its core, but not one devoid of hope".
"An engaging tribute to friendship, family and bacchanalian hedonism in moderation," says The Hollywood Reporter.
As one of many applauding Mads Mikkelsen, Wall Street Journal writes: "Mr. Mikkelsen looms large among the leading screen actors of our time. His wit is quick, his timing impeccable, and his characters always seem to have a rich inner life".
Strong Oscar team
Thomas Vinterberg wrote the script with Tobias Lindholm, who was also co-author on Vinterberg's Oscar-nominated 'The Hunt'. As director, Lindholm received a nomination for his drama 'A War'.
Sisse Graum Jørgensen from Zentropa, who is producing with Kasper Dissing, is a prominent Oscar profile, having produced four of the Danish films reaching the nomination round, including one victory: Susanne Bier's 2011 Oscar winner 'In a Better World', Bier's 'After the Wedding', Nikolaj Arcel's 'A Royal Affair' and Thomas Vinterberg's 'The Hunt'.
From Cannes to the Golden Globes
On 3 February, 'Another Round' made it to the list of nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, with the winners to be announced on 28 February.
Another Round
There’s a theory that we should be born with a small amount of alcohol in our blood, and that modest inebriation opens our minds to the world around us, diminishing our problems and increasing our creativity. Heartened by that theory, Martin and three of his friends, all weary high school teachers, embark on an experiment to maintain a constant level of intoxication throughout the workday. If Churchill won WW2 in a heavy daze of alcohol, who knows what a few drops might do for them and their students?
The ensemble drama made its in-cinema world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Awards include the French Art House Cinema Prize (Prix des Cinémas Art et Essai), the Silver Shell for Best Actor to Mikkelsen and co-players Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang and Lars Ranthe, the main award at the London Film Festival and, finally, the European Film Awards for best film, director, actor and screenplay. Looking ahead, 'Another Round' is in the run for the Lux European Audience Film Award, to be revealed on 28 April.
'Another Round' premiered in Denmark in September to excellent reviews, reaching a stunning 802,000 cinema tickets before the country's second corona shutdown.
The film is set for distribution in most international markets and has already performed well in France and England. In the US, it was released theatrically and on VOD in December through Samuel Goldwyn Films.
The road to the Osars
In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches can opt in to participate. Nominations voting takes place from 5 to 10 March.
All Oscar nominations will be announced on 15 March. The 93. Oscars take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on 25 April 2021.
Danish films and the Oscars
Below is an overview of the last ten years of Danish Oscar entries in the international feature film category by awards ceremony year:
2020 Queen of Hearts / May el-Toukhy
2019 The Guilty / Gustav Möller / Oscar shortlist
2018 You Disappear / Peter Schønau Fog
2017 Land of Mine / Martin Zandvliet / Oscar nomination
2016 A War / Tobias Lindholm / Oscar nomination
2015 Sorrow and Joy / Nils Malmros
2014 The Hunt / Thomas Vinterberg / Oscar nomination
2013 A Royal Affair / Nikolaj Arcel / Oscar nomination
2012 Superclásico / Ole Christian Madsen / Oscar shortlist
2011 In a Better World / Susanne Bier / Oscar winner
Three Danish films have won an Oscar in the international feature film category: Susanne Bier's 'In a Better World' in 2011, Bille August's 'Pelle the Conqueror' in 1989 and Gabriel Axel's 'Babette's Feast' in 1988.
See full list of nominations and awards for Danish films on our Oscar page.
