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VIRAL EXCLUSIVE
Nov. 8, 2024
China's Oscar Disqualification
The feature does not comply with rules concerning non-English dialogue.
China’s hopes
for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category have been dashed
after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ruled its submission, The
Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, ineligible. Directed by Fang Li, this World War
II documentary recounts the tragic sinking of the Japanese ship Lisbon Maru,
which was transporting British prisoners of war when it was torpedoed by a U.S.
submarine in 1942. The film features interviews with British survivors and
descendants, as well as historical footage and animated reconstructions.
The Academy’s
decision was based on the film’s failure to meet the requirement that more than
50% of its dialogue be in a language other than English. This ruling means that
China will not compete in the International Feature Film category for the first
time in over two decades. However, The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru
remains eligible for the Best Documentary Feature category and will begin its
qualifying run in Los Angeles later this month.
This setback
is significant for China, which has previously been nominated twice in the
International Feature category but has never won. The film’s disqualification
underscores the stringent criteria set by the Academy and highlights the
challenges faced by international submissions in meeting these standards.
