August 2, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dawn Newell (310) 247-3000
                 dnewell@oscars.org

Academy Invites 85 Countries to Submit Their Best Pictures for Foreign Language Film Oscar^®

Beverly Hills, CA - Eighty-five countries have been invited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to submit their top films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 75th Academy Awards^®.

Entry forms must be received at the Academy by Friday, November 1, and films must be received by Friday, November 15.

According to Academy rules, to qualify for consideration for the 2002 Award, a film must have had its first public showing in a commercial theater in its home country for at least seven consecutive days between November 1, 2001, and October 31, 2002, and must have been produced with a predominantly non-English dialogue track in the language of the submitting country.

Over the years, 92 different countries have submitted films to the competition at least once. In 2001, a record number of 51 entries were received for this category.

The 75th Academy Award^® nominations will be announced at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Tuesday, February 11, 2003.

Information about the Foreign Language Film Award may be obtained by contacting Awards Coordinator Patrick Stockstill at the Academy via phone at 310-247-3000, ext. 116; by fax at 310-247-2600 or by e-mail to pstockstill@oscars.org.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2002 will be presented on Sunday, March 23, 2003, from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland^® and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST. A half-hour arrival segment will precede the presentation ceremony at 5 p.m.