by Wilfred Okiche

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the list of movies shortlisted for the best foreign language film for the 2012 Oscars. From a long list of 63, nine movies were picked and the list will be further reduced to five nominees.

The final five will be announced 24, January 2012, same day as the complete nominees list in all other categories.

The movies are:

A Separation- Iran

Bullhead- Belgium

Monsieur Lazhar- Canada

SuperClasico- Denmark

Pina – Germany

Footnote- Israel

Omar killed me- Morocco

In Darkness- Poland

Warriors of the rainbow- Taiwan.

With a recent win at the Golden Globes and ecstatic reviews from critics, Iran’s ‘A Separation’, a drama about the end of a marriage has assumed frontrunner status and is highly favoured to pick up the award come February.