Kaurismäki’s newest film was selected for the qualifying list announced on Thursday.
Jussi Vatanen, Aki Kaurismäki and Alma Pöysti posed for photographers at the Cannes Film Festival in May. “Dead leaves” won the jury prize in Cannes. GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO, AOP
Aki Kaurismäki’s film Dead leaves took a step closer to the Oscar for Best International Film.
Dead leaves is one of 15 non-English language films selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences out of 88 nominations.
There is still qualifying ahead. Five films will be selected from the list announced on Thursday, which will receive an actual Oscar nomination on January 23.
The Oscars will be held in Los Angeles on March 10, 2024 local time. In Finnish time, the gala starts in the morning on March 11.
“A man without a past” reached the nomination
Kaurismäki Man without a past is the only Finnish film that has so far received an actual Oscar nomination for best international film. The film was nominated in 2003.
Directed by Selma Vilhunen Do I have to take care of everything? was nominated for the best short film Oscar winner at the 2014 gala.
The qualifiers have previously been directed by Klaus Härö Swordsman (2015) and directed by Juho Kuosmanen Cabin No. 6 (2021).
“Dead Leaves” has already received these recognitions
• Prix du Jury prize of the Cannes Film Festival jury
• Fipresci Grand Prix for the best film of the year
• Golden Globe nominations: best non-English language film, best actress in a musical or comedy film (Alma Pöysti)
• Time magazine’s selection as the best film of the year. Among the best films of the year are also e.g. Listed by Associated Press News, Sight & Sound and The Hollywood Reporter
• Toronto Film Critics’ Association Award for Best International Film
• Arab Critics’ Award for the best European film of the year
• Among other things, the award for the best director at the Chicago Film Festival (Aki Kaurismäki), the audience award for the best film at the Munich Film Festival, the audience award for the best international film at the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico, the Adolph Zukor main award at the Miskolc Film Festival in Hungary
• LUX Audience Award nomination for a European film (the winner will be announced in March 2024)
• European Film Awards nominations in five main categories
• The most watched domestic film of 2023, so far more than 238,000 viewers in Finland
Source: B-Plan Distribution, responsible for distribution in Finland