List of submissions to the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film

This is a list of submissions to the 81st Academy Awards for the Best Foreign Language Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has invited the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film every year since the award was created in 1956.^[1] The award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue.^[1][2] The Foreign Language Film Award Committee oversees the process and reviews all the submitted films.^[2]

Oscar winner

Departures

Submissions

67

Debuts

1

Quick facts 2008 Best Foreign Language Film submissions, Highlights ...

2008 Best Foreign Language Film submissions
Yōjirō Takita directed Departures, which won the year's award.
Highlights
Oscar winner	Departures
Submissions	67
Debuts	1
← 2007 · List · 2009 →

Close

For the 81st Academy Awards, the submitted motion pictures must have first been released theatrically in their respective countries between 1 October 2007 and 30 September 2008. The deadline for submissions to the Academy was 1 October 2008.^[2][3] 67 countries submitted films and were found to be eligible by AMPAS and screened for voters.^[4] Jordan submitted a film for the first time,^[5] while Latvia made a submission for the first time since 1992.^[6] After the 9-film shortlist was announced on 13 January 2009,^[7][8] the five nominees were announced on 22 January 2009.^[9]

Japan won the award for the fourth time with Departures by Yōjirō Takita^[10], marking its first competitive win after three Honorary Awards since 1956.