Václav Marhoul’s feature The Painted Bird is part of 10 films from all over the world which have been selected for the shortlist in the category International Feature Film (formerly known as Foreign Language Film). Black and White 169 minutes long drama competed in Venezia 76, as the first Czech film in 25 years, and during autumn it was screened at more than 20 festivals. For his meticulous job on the film, the DOP Vladimír Smutný was awarded the prize for best cinematography at Chicago IFF.

Academy was also interested in Truth and Justice (Estonia), Les Misérables (France), Those Who Remained (Hungary), Honeyland (North Macedonia), Corpus Cristi (Poland), Beanpole (Russia), Atlantics (Senegal), Parasite (South Korea), Pain and Glory (Spain). A total of Ninety-one films were eligible in the category.

In the category Animated Short Film has been shortlisted 13 minutes long drama Daughter. Its director, FAMU student Daria Kashcheeva, continues in a series of fantastic achievements. In the past months, Kashcheeva's film won the major prize at the world’s biggest animation film festival in Annecy, the student Oscar and it was also invited to more than 60 festivals all over the world, including Toronto IFF, Sundance IFF, Melbourne IFF or Tallinn BNFF.

In this category, the Academy was also interested in Hair Love (USA), He Can’t Live without Cosmos (Russia), Hors Piste (France), Kitbull (USA), Mémorable (France), Mind My Mind (Netherlands), The Physics of Sorrow (Canada), Sister (France), Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days (Croatia).

Traditionally, final nominations will be announced early next year.