US cinema release for Swiss Oscar contender “Iraqi Odyssey”
Samir’s “Iraqi Odyssey” (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG, Zurich), Switzerland’s candidate in the running for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film will run in cinemas in the US in November. The Oscar campaign is currently in full swing.
20.11.2015
“Iraqi Odyssey” will be released in cinemas in Los Angeles and New York on November 27, followed by further releases in many other cities in January. Prior to this, the Swiss Consulate General in New York will extend an invitation to an exclusive premiere gala featuring a special 3-D screening with the film’s director Samir in attendance. The distributor in the US is AFD/Typecast Releasing; the international rights are managed by the world sales company Autlook Filmsales.
The Oscar campaign for “Iraqi Odyssey” was launched in the USA at the beginning of November. It is coordinated by SWISS FILMS on behalf of the Federal Office of Culture. The documentary film has already been presented at numerous industry screenings, including an Oscar screening organised by European Film Promotion for the European contenders at the American Film Market in Los Angeles.
Two Swiss coproductions are also among the 81 films submitted for the Foreign Language Film category, together with “Iraqi Odyssey”: Paraguay with “El tiempo nublado” by Arami Ullon (coproduction: Cineworx Filmproduktion), and Portugal with “Arabian Nights” by Miguel Gomes (coproduction: Box Productions). Furthermore, “Iraqi Odyssey” is one of the 124 documentary films on the longlist for the category Documentary Feature.
Four Swiss short film productions have also qualified for an Oscar submission due to their festival awards: “Le barrage” by Samuel Grandchamp, “Tišina Mujo” by Ursula Meier, and “La vie en rose comme dans les films” by Christophe M. Saber in the category of Live Action Short Film, as well as “Messages dans l’air” by Isabelle Favez in category of Animated Short Film.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood will announce the shortlist of documentary films on December 2, and then on December 18 the shortlist of the five films selected as nominees in the Foreign Language category. The definite Oscar nominations will be announced on January 14, 2016. The award ceremonies will be held in Los Angeles on February 28.
SWISS FILMS, November 23