Norway Announces Foreign Oscar Shortlist

The Norwegian Oscar Committee has announced a shortlist of three films to be considered for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 91st Academy Awards: Blind Spot by Tuva Novotny, What Will People Say by Iram Haq, and U – July 22 by Erik Poppe.

The committee will convene to decide Norway’s Oscar entry on 4th September, then The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce its final five nominees on 22nd January, with the Oscars taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on 24th February 2019.

Blind Spot | Blindsone by Tuva Novotny
Follows a mother’s struggle to understand the crisis her daughter is going through, and in so doing places a spotlight on mental health care for Norwegian youths and asks how we can help them to open up about their suffering. Competing for the Golden Shell at San Sebastian in September.

What Will People Say | Hva vil folk si by Iram Haq
A young woman’s life becomes a nightmare when she is found by her father in her room with a boyfriend. Until then she had maintained a double life with her friends in Oslo in the evenings, whilst being the dutiful daughter at home to her Pakistani family. Won four Amanda Awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actor.

U – July 22 | Utøya 22. juli by Erik Poppe
The film begins 12 minutes before the first shot was fired, where we meet fictional character Kaja, her little sister, and their friends. Filmed in a single take to amplify the tension, the next 72 minutes follow Kaja as she becomes separated from her sister, and the youngsters’ fight for survival.