The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the nine films advancing in this year’s Oscar race for best foreign language film and a South African film is featured as one of them.
For the foreign competition, the Academy uses a system whereby a general committee selects six films from the full list of submissions (a record-breaking 92 this year), while a 20-person executive committee spearheaded by producer and foreign committee chair Mark Johnson selects an additional three.
The nine finalists for nominations in 2017 are:
- South Africa, “The Wound,” John Trengove, director
- Chile, “A Fantastic Woman,” Sebastián Lelio, director
- Germany, “In the Fade,” Fatih Akin, director
- Hungary, “On Body and Soul,” Ildikó Enyedi, director
- Israel, “Foxtrot,” Samuel Maoz, director
- Lebanon, “The Insult,” Ziad Doueiri, director
- Russia, “Loveless,” Andrey Zvyagintsev, director
- Senegal, “Félicité,” Alain Gomis, director
- Sweden, “The Square,” Ruben Östlund, director
John Trengove’s debut feature The Wound opened to rave reviews in Sundance and Berlin and won the historic Sutherland trophy for Best First Feature at the BFI London Film Festival.
An unflinching examination of sexuality, masculinity and cultural identity set against the backdrop of the traditional Xhosa initiation ceremony, the movie was selected by the National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF).
The selection committee lauded the film “as a masterpiece in terms of script, directing and performances,” according to the NFVF’s Peter Kwele, who added that the film’s sale in 22 territories so far is “evidence of its global appeal.”
Following its world premiere in Sundance, the efilm opened the Panorama section of this year’s Berlinale. “The Wound” was co-written by Trengove, Thando Mgqolozana and Malusi Bengu, and stars Nakhane Touré, an acclaimed musician and novelist making his acting debut, along with Bongile Mantsai and Niza Jay Ncoyini.
The film, which deals with a closeted love affair in the context of a rite-of-passage to manhood, was selected as South Africa’s submission to the foreign language Oscars.
John originally trained as an actor and went on to study at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He spent his early career making work across multiple platforms, including the cult theatre hit The Epicene Butcher which played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and his television miniseries Hopeville which was awarded the Rose d’Or and received an International Emmy nomination.
In 2015, he received a best director SAFTA and and honorary award from the South African Academy of Arts and Sciences for his work on the drama series, Swartwater.
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