The Oscar race begins

OSCAR 2012. "A Royal Affair", "Love Is All You Need" and "Marie Krøyer" are shortlisted for the title as Denmark's Oscar candidate in the Best Foreign Language category.

Three Danish films have been shortlisted for the race to become the Danish Oscar entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The films are Nikolaj Arcel's "A Royal Affair", Susanne Bier's "Love Is All You Need" and Bille August's "Marie Krøyer".

The films have been selected by a Danish committee set up by the Danish Film Institute and film industry organisations. The committee will name the final Danish candidate for the Oscar race on 18 September (Ed.: the date has been moved to 21 September).

"It's already been a remarkable year for Danish cinema. Danish films have brought home awards from the major festivals in Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, and now we have a significant lineup at the festivals in Venice and Toronto to look forward to," says CEO of the Danish Film Institute, Henrik Bo Nielsen, who is chairman of the committee.

"It hasn't been an easy choice this year. We had to choose between many qualified candidates. The result is three films with great international potential: Nikolaj Arcel's "A Royal Affair" won two Silver Bears in Berlin for Best Script and Best Actor and has since performed well at the UK and Australian box offices. Academy Award winner Susanne Bier's "Love Is All You Need" was recently selected for the late summer festivals in Venice and Toronto. And "Marie Krøyer" is the previous Oscar-winner Bille August's first Danish film in 25 years. These are three strong directors who have already proven themselves on the international film scene."

The three films

Nikolaj Arcel's historical drama "A Royal Affair" is written by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg and produced by Louise Vesth, Sisse Graum Jørgensen, and Meta Louise Foldager for Zentropa Entertainments with support from the Danish Film Institute. TrustNordisk handles international sales.

The story of Susanne Bier's romance "Love Is All You Need" is created by Susanne Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen. The film is produced by Vibeke Windeløv and Sisse Graum Jørgensen for Zentropa Entertainments with support from The Danish Film Institute. TrustNordisk handles international sales.

Bille August's historical drama "Marie Krøyer" is written by Peter Asmussen and produced by Karin Trolle and Signe Leick Jensen for SF Film Production. AB Svensk Filmindustri handles international sales.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces the five nominations for Best Foreign Language Film on 15 January, and the awards show in Los Angeles will take place on 24 February.

A short Danish Oscar history

The first time Denmark was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film was in 1956 with Erik Balling's "Qivitoq". In 1959, Astrid Henning-Jensen's "Paw" was nominated, and in 1961 Bent Christensen's "Harry and the Butler", but it wasn’t until 1987 that Gabriel Axel finally emerged victorious as the first Danish Oscar winner ever for his Isak Dinesen adaptation "Babette's Feast".

The following year Bille August repeated the success with his adaptation of Martin Andersen Nexø's social-realist classic "Pelle the Conqueror". Kaspar Rostrup's "Waltzing Regitze" was nominated the year after.

Another 17 years passed before Denmark once again was nominated with Susanne Bier's "After the Wedding" in 2006. In 2010, Bier finally took home the statuette with "In a Better World".

Last year, Ole Christian Madsen's divorce comedy "SuperClásico" made it to the Oscar shortlist.

List of Academy Award winners and nominees for Best Foreign Language Film (Wikipedia)
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences