9 films qualify for foreign language Oscar

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Nine films will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for Hollywood's 85th Academy Awards, organizers said.

Seventy-one films had originally qualified in the category.

The films are Austria's "Amour," Michael Haneke, director; Canada's "War Witch," Kim Nguyen, director; Chile's "No," Pablo Larrain, director; Denmark's "A Royal Affair," Nikolaj Arcel, director;

France's "The Intouchables," Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, directors; Iceland's "The Deep," Baltasar Kormakur, director; Norway's "Kon-Tiki," Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, directors;

Romania's "Beyond the Hills," Cristian Mungiu, director; and Switzerland's "Sister," Ursula Meier, director.

The shortlist will be winnowed down to five nominees by specially invited committees in New York and Los Angeles. Oscar nominations will be announced Jan. 10 and winners will receive their awards Feb. 24.