France Reveals New Oscars Selection Committee

New Committee Members

France has revealed the 11 members of its newly revamped Oscars selection committee, comprising leading industry figures, including Oscar-winning producer Patrick Wachsberger, Charades co-founder Carole Baraton, Kinology founder Gregoire Melin, filmmakers Audrey Diwan and Florian Zeller, producer and distributor Rosalie Varda, actress Clémence Poesy, Anatomy Of A Fall producer David Thion, distributor, producer, and author Michèle Halberstadt of ARP Selection, and Four Daughters producer Nadim Cheikhroua.

Committee Reforms

France’s CNC overhauled its committee protocol in July following fallout from last year’s decision not to put forward Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall and choices over the past several years that have left France without a win in the category since Regis Wargnier’s Indochine in 1993. The committee is now comprised of 11 members and five alternates, up from a current seven members.

Recent Developments

France’s most recent nomination came in 2020 with Ladj Ly’s Les Miserables. This is the third time France has shifted its Oscars selection committee procedure in recent years. In 2022, it removed voting power from the heads of the Cannes Film Festival, Unifrance, and the César Academy, which followed a major overhaul in 2019 that brought industry professionals including sales agents, distributors, and producers onto an expanded committee.

Shortlist and Final Selection

The new committee will unveil its shortlist in the category tomorrow (September 11) before announcing its final selection a week later. Contenders to make the shortlist include Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez, box-office hit The Count Of Monte-Cristo, and Alain Guiraudie’s Misericordia.

Conclusion

The revamped committee aims to bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the selection process, hoping to break France’s 30-year drought in the best international feature category.

FAQs

Q: Who are the new members of the Oscars selection committee?
A: The 11 members of the committee include Oscar-winning producer Patrick Wachsberger, Charades co-founder Carole Baraton, Kinology founder Gregoire Melin, filmmakers Audrey Diwan and Florian Zeller, producer and distributor Rosalie Varda, actress Clémence Poesy, Anatomy Of A Fall producer David Thion, distributor, producer, and author Michèle Halberstadt of ARP Selection, and Four Daughters producer Nadim Cheikhroua.

Q: Why was the committee reformed?
A: The committee was reformed following fallout from last year’s decision not to put forward Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall and choices over the past several years that have left France without a win in the category since Regis Wargnier’s Indochine in 1993.

Q: What is the purpose of the shortlist and final selection?
A: The shortlist will be unveiled on September 11, and the final selection will be announced a week later. The goal is to select the best French film to represent the country in the best international feature category at the Oscars.