Aktan Arym Kubat, also known as Aktan Abdykalykov, is a Kyrgyzstani director, screenwriter and actor. Member of the National Film Academy of the Kyrgyzstan, acting Member of the European Film Academy, acting Member of Asia Pacific Screen Academy.
Beshkempir is a 1998 Kyrgyz language film. Shot and produced in Kyrgyzstan, it is representative of the first wave of independently produced cinema in the country after its independence from Soviet Union. It was directed by Aktan Abdykalykov, and stars the director's son Mirlan Abdykalykov in the lead role. This simple bildungsroman went on to receive critical acclaim, and won numerous international awards including the Silver Leopard Prize at the 1998 Locarno International Film Festival. The film was selected as the Kyrgyz entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.
The Chimp is a 2001 Kyrgyz film directed by Aktan Abdykalykov. It was Kyrgyzstan's submission to the 74th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee. It was also screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
Difret is a 2014 Ethiopian drama film written and directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari. The film had its premiere in-competition at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival where it won the World Cinematic Dramatic Audience Award. Angelina Jolie served as the executive producer of the film.
600 Miles is a 2015 Mexican drama film directed by Gabriel Ripstein. It was screened in the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the award for Best First Feature. It was one of fourteen films shortlisted by Mexico to be their submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. On 17 September 2015 it was selected to represent Mexico for the Foreign Language Oscar but it was not nominated.
The Summer of Sangailė is a 2015 romantic teen drama film written and directed by Alantė Kavaitė. It was screened in the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival. The film won the directing award in the dramatic world cinema category at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. It also won Best Film, Best Actress and best set design at the Silver Crane Awards. The film was selected as the Lithuanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.
How to Win at Checkers is a 2015 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Josh Kim. It was screened in the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival, and was selected as the Thai entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. The film is based on the short stories "At the Café Lovely" and "Draft Day" by Rattawut Lapcharoensap.
Heavenly Nomadic is a 2015 Kyrgyz drama film directed by Mirlan Abdykalykov. The film was selected as the Kyrgyz entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.
On the Other Side is a 2016 Croatian-Serbian drama film directed by Zrinko Ogresta. It was shown in the Panorama section at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. The film received a Special Mention from the Europa Cinema Label jury. It was selected as the Croatian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.
Sand Storm is a 2016 Israeli drama film directed by Elite Zexer. It was shown in the Panorama section at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. At the 2016 Sundance Film Festival it won the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Dramatic section. It won the Best Film Award at the Ophir Awards. It was selected as the Israeli entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.
Death in Sarajevo is a 2016 Bosnian drama film directed by Danis Tanović. It was selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. At Berlin it won the Jury Grand Prix, as well as FIPRESCI prize for films shown in competition. It was selected as the Bosnian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.
Road to Istanbul is a 2016 French-Algerian drama film directed by Rachid Bouchareb. It was shown in the Panorama section at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. Whettnall received a Magritte Award for Best Actress at the 7th Magritte Awards for her role in the film. It was selected as the Algerian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
The 67th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 9 to 18 February 2017 with Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven as President of the Jury. Django, directed by Etienne Comar, opened the festival. The Golden Bear was awarded to the Hungarian film On Body and Soul directed by Ildikó Enyedi, which also served as closing film of the festival.
Félicité is a 2017 Senegalese drama film set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and directed by Alain Gomis. It was selected to compete for the Golden Bear in the main competition section of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. At Berlin, the film won the Jury Grand Prix award. At the 2017 Africa Movie Academy Awards, it won six awards which is the highest for a film in the history of the award ceremony, including categories for best film, best actress, best supporting actor, best editing, best soundtrack and best film in an African language.
One Thousand Ropes is a 2017 New Zealand drama film directed by Tusi Tamasese. It was screened in the Panorama section at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. It was selected as the New Zealand entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.
Requiem for Mrs. J. is a 2017 Serbian drama and comedy film directed by Bojan Vuletić. It was screened in the Panorama section at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. It was selected as the Serbian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
Summer 1993 is a 2017 Catalan-language Spanish drama film directed and written by Carla Simón. The film premiered in the Generation section at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the GWFF Best First Feature Award. It was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
Night Accident is a 2017 Kyrgyzstani drama film directed by Temirbek Birnazarov. It was selected as the Kyrgyz entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. However, it was not on the final list of submitted films released by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in October 2018.
