Cinema V Distributing (Algeria)
(Reggane Films-O.N.C.I.C. Production)
Since the establishment of the Best Foreign-Language Picture, only a few foreign movies have been nominated for Best Picture. Costa-Gavras' political thriller Z, a French-Algerian co-production starring Yves Montand and Jean-Louis Trintignant, enjoyed a special position in 1969. Z won the Best Foreign Language Picture and it was also nominated in the general competitive category of Best Picture.
According to Academy rules, foreign pictures that have opened theatrically in the U.S. are eligible to compete in all the other categories. To qualify for Foreign-Language Picture, however, a film must be sent by its country of origin to the Academy, where a committee selects the five nominees. Z qualified on both grounds: It was officially submitted as an Algerian entry, and it opened in the United States in December.
Oscar Nominations: 5
Foreign Language Film
Picture, produced by Jacques Perrin and Hamed Rachedi
Director: Costa-Gavras
Screenplay (Adapted): Jorge Semprun and Costa-Gavras
Film Editing: Francoise Bonnot
Oscar Awards: 2
Foreign Language
Editing
b>Oscar Context
The year's biggest loser was “Anne of the Thousand Days,” which received the largest number (10) of nominations, but won only one. Awards-wise, George Roy Hill's “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” got more Oscars (four) than the Best Picture “Midnight Cowboy,” though both were nominated in 7 categories. Barbra Streisand's musical “Hello Dolly! was also nominated for 7, wining 3. The fifth Oscar nominee was Costa-Gavras' political thriller “Z.”
