Greg Sneddon’s Arrows of the Thunder Dragon has been selected early this morning AEDT as Australia’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards®. The film will now compete with eighty other entrants from around the world to be shortlisted for nomination.
“I’m thrilled and honoured for our film to represent Australia in the Academy Awards® foreign language category,” says Writer / Director /Producer Greg Sneddon. “I feel Arrows of the Thunder Dragon is important on a few levels, not the least of which is that it is a thinking-person's film that relies on subtle story content to engage the audience. The Bhutanese traditional way of life and death is quite remarkable in its sophistication.”
https://vimeo.com/124122940
Screen Australia arranges an independent panel to make the selection from the eligible Australian foreign language films each year. To be eligible for consideration in the category, a film must be defined by predominantly non-English dialogue and have been theatrically (cinema) released in its country of origin for at least seven days. Only one film can be submitted from each country.
“Despite being an English-speaking country, Arrows of the Thunder Dragon marks our fourth selection in a row for this category after Charlie’s Country in 2014, The Rocket in 2013 and Lore in 2012,” says Richard Harris, Head of Business and Audience at Screen Australia. “We heartily congratulate Greg and all the team fromArrows of the Thunder Dragon and now wait with bated breath to see if the film makes the next selection hurdle.” If Arrows of the Thunder Dragon does get nominated in the category, it would be the first official Australian entry to ever do so.
The 88th Academy Award® nominations will be announced on 14 January 2016, with the awards presented on 28 February 2016.
