Academy’s return to 10 best picture noms boosts chance of Iran’s ‘A Hero’: Report

A new report says the Academy’s return to 10 nominees in its top Oscars category boosts the chance of foreign-language films such as Iranian movie ‘A Hero’ to enter the Best Picture race.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in July 2020 that it would nominate 10 films for its Best Picture prize.

The number of films nominated in the Best Picture category fluctuated from season to season over the past decades.

The Hollywood Reporter said in a report on Monday that the returning to 10, and the membership of many international filmmakers in the Academy would boost the chances for foreign-language films such as Iranian feature ‘A Hero’ by Asghar Farhadi being nominated for the Best Picture award.

“The Academy has changed, growing far beyond 2009’s clubby organization of about 6,000 members. Having invited lots of international filmmakers into its fold — more than 9,000 total voting numbers — it could well look beyond typical Hollywood product,” the American magazine said.

“That, in turn, could boost the chances for foreign-language films like ... Asghar Farhadi’s ‘A Hero’ being elevated to the best picture circle,” it added.

‘A Hero’ is selected as Iran’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2022 Academy Awards.

Farhadi's feature is about Rahim, a divorced man who has been imprisoned due to unpaid debt. During a two-day leave, Rahim tries to prove that he is a good person.

‘A Hero’ was awarded the Grand Prix at the 74th Cannes Film Festival in France. The prize was also shared by Juho Kuosmanen’s ‘Compartment No.6’.

Farhadi’s films ‘A Separation’ (2011) and ‘The Salesman’ (2016) won two Oscars in the best foreign-language film category.

The 2022 Oscar nominations would be announced next February.

SQ/AG