January 20, 2011
Israeli film fails to reach Oscar semis
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Israel’s three-year streak of reaching the list of five finalists in the Oscar race for best foreign language film has ended.
This year’s Israeli contender, “The Human Resources Manager,” was not on the list Wednesday when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released its shortlist of nine semifinalists.
The Israeli film industry seemed tantalizingly close to its first Oscar win when its entries were picked among the final five in 2010 with “Ajami,” 2009 with “Waltz with Bashir” and 2008 with “Beaufort.”
“The Human Resources Manager” found few supporters among academy and earlier Golden Globe voters.
Among the foreign films on the selection committee’s shortlist were those dealing mainly with war, disease and dysfunctional families. The films came from Algeria, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.
The five finalists will be announced Jan. 25; the winner will be crowned at the Feb. 27 award ceremonies.
