Foreign language semifinalists announced

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the nine semifinalists for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Here are the nine films that were chosen from the 65 that were eligible:

El Secreto de Sus Ojos (Argentina)

Samson & Delilah (Australia)

The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (Bulgaria)

Un Prophete (France)

The White Ribbon (Germany)

Ajami (Israel)

Kelin (Kazakhstan)

Winter in Wartime (The Netherlands)

The Milk of Sorrow (Peru)

Today’s news is something of a vindication for Pedro Almodovar, whose critically acclaimed Broken Embraces wasn’t chosen by Spain as its official submission. The film Spain did enter, The Dancer and the Thief, didn’t make the cut.