Elysia is joined by Mexican film critic Héctor Serrano to tour the best cinema of the year from around the world, from this year's five Oscar nominees to highlights from the shortlist and beyond:
- Best International Film – history & rules (0:04:02)
- The 5 nominees (0:16:54)
- Shortlisted films (01:02:55)
- Other awards & more recs (01:26:16)
Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.
Find Héctor Serrano at: El Cinéfilo Latino
Nominees Discussed:
International Film nominees:
- It Was Just an Accident (France [Iran]) – trailer, info (VoD)
- The Secret Agent (Brazil) – trailer, info (VoD, theaters)
- Sentimental Value (Norway) – trailer, info (VoD)
- Sirāt (Spain) – trailer, info (theaters, VoD likely March)
- The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia [Palestine]) – trailer, info (theaters, VoD March 10)
Other films discussed: A Useful Ghost (Thailand; to rent), The Sea (Israel; to rent), No Other Choice (South Korea; to rent), “Close Your Eyes, Hind” (The Netherlands [Palestine]; NPO [NL only]), Four Daughters (2023, Tunisia; Hoopla, Kanpoy, Kino), The President’s Cake (Iraq), Sound of Falling (Germany), Left-Handed Girl (Taiwan; Netflix), Kokuho (Japan), Homebound (India; Netflix), All That’s Left of You (Jordan [Palestine]; to rent), Nouvelle Vague (France; Netflix), On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia; HBO Max), A Poet (Colombia), Rietland (The Netherlands; to rent [NL]; Elysia’s review), The Propagandist (The Netherlands; NPO [NL]), We Shall Not Be Moved (Mexico; Disney/Hulu, Kanopy), The Things You Kill (Canada [Turkey]; Hoopla, Filo), Banzo (Portugal), Sore: Wife from the Future (Indonesia), The Ugly Stepsister (Norway; Hulu, AMC+, Shudder, Mubi, Philo), The Last Viking (Denmark), Resurrection (China; Elysia’s review), Magellan (The Phillippines [Portugal])
The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world
Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com
Oscars 2026 coverage
Nominations + Best Picture preview
Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts
Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair
International Features (this episode)
Documentary Features
Score & Original Song
Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound
Animated Features
Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director
Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting
Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings
Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees
One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3
Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”
For subscribers:
Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco + Rental Family, Left-Handed Girl)
Imagine Fantastic FF – WhachaWachin (The Last Viking)
Additional awards coverage
Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes
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