BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- 'A Place in the Sun,' Uruguay's first Academy Award nominee for best foreign language film, has been disqualified because academy officials determined it was primarily an Argentine production.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences said Thursday that Uruguay's relatively minor role in the film came to light after nominations for the 65th annual Academy Awards were announced last week.
Fay Kanin of the academy's foreign language committee said 'A Place in the Sun' did not meet the minimum criteria for entry by Uruguay.
The film was primarily produced by Argentine filmmakers, but it could not be entered by that nation because another Argentine film already had been submitted.
Under Oscar rules, nations may submit only one non-English film each year for consideration in that category.
Argentina's entry, 'The Dark Side of the Heart,' was not nominated.
'A Place in the Sun,' about a man's reflections on his youth in an Argentine mountain village and his first love there, was Uruguay's first entry ever for an Academy Award.
Kanin said the committee could have accepted it as Uruguay's entry if more people from that country been involved in making it.
But the academy, investigating with Uruguay officials, learned the only Uruguayans on the project were the costume designer, who also shares credit for the story, and a cast member who has fifth billing.
Kanin said, 'Everything else about the picture is Argentine.'
The academy said Oscar voters will choose the winner from the four remaining nominees: 'Close to Eden' (Russia), 'Daens' (Belgium), 'Indochine' (France) and 'Schtonk' (Germany).
The Oscars will be presented March 29 in ceremonies at the Los Angeles Music Center.
