'Peepli Live' out of Oscar race

Aamir 'disappointed and sad' about the Academy's decision

'Peepli Live', India's official entry for the Oscars this year, is out of the race. The Aamir Khan-produced film is not in the list of nine movies selected for the next next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 83rd Academy Awards. Directed by journalist-turned-director Anusha Rizvi, the satirical comedy wowed audiences to become one of 2010's top five grossers. However, it seems the film couldn't impress the Academy bosses. Here's what Aamir had to say about the Academy's decision, "I came to know that 'Peepli Live' is out of Oscars. I am of course sad and disappointed about it. But, I am happy that we represented India and we were one among the world's best 60 films which were sent to Oscars," Aamir said.

The actor also maintained that he doesn't make films for the Oscars.
"I don't make them for Oscars, neither for any other awards. I make films for the audience. I value whatever response I get from the audience, critics and media. Oscars, Cannes, Berlin Festival - they are like platforms where international audience come to know about our films. If you win there, more people watch them," he said.
This year, 65 countries, including first-time entrants Ethiopia and Greenland, had submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category.

Foreign Language Film nominations for 2010 are again being determined in two phases, said a statement posted on the Oscar official website.

The Phase one committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based members, screened the 66 eligible films between mid-October and Jan 13. The group's top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy's Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.

The shortlist will be winnowed down to the five nominees by specially invited committees in New York and Los Angeles. They will spend Friday, Jan 21, through Sunday, Jan 23, viewing three films each day and then casting their ballots.

The nine films, listed in alphabetical order by country, selected for second stage are:

1. Algeria, "Hors la Loi" ("Outside the Law"), Director Rachid Bouchareb
2. Canada, "Incendies,", Director Denis Villeneuve
3. Denmark, "In a Better World,", Director Susanne Bier
4. Greece, "Dogtooth,", Director Yorgos Lanthimos
5. Japan, "Confessions,", Director Tetsuya Nakashima
6. Mexico, "Biutiful,", Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
7. South Africa, "Life, above All,", Director Oliver Schmitz
8. Spain, "Tambien la Lluvia" ("Even the Rain"), Director Iciar Bollain
9. Sweden, "Simple Simon,", Director Andreas Ohman

The nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, Jan 25 and the award ceremony is scheduled for Feb 27.