Juliette Binoche, Sandra Hüller and Koji Yakusho are some contenders from around the world who might get Oscar nomination.
Leonie Benesch
Germany • The Teachers’ Lounge
The German actress, who appeared in The Crown and Around the World in 80 Days, stars as an idealistic teacher trying to solve a series of thefts at her school in the film that was selected as Germany’s entry for the 2024 Oscars. Her performance has been lauded by critics, veering masterfully between openhearted hope and tense physicality.
The film itself holds a score of 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and even beat out four-time Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front at this year’s German film awards, known as the Lolas.
Juliette Binoche
France • The Taste of Things
The French actress delivers yet another exceptional performance in The Taste of Things, doing some of the best onscreen cooking.
The film beat out Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall to become France’s official Oscar contender.
Binoche is no stranger to the Oscars: she won best supporting actress for her role in the 1996 The English Patient, and four years later was nominated for best actress for Chocolat.
Christian Friedel
UK • The Zone of Interest
A German actor receiving awards consideration this Oscar season is Friedel, who is the male lead in Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, the British entry for the 2024 Oscars and the Grand Prix winner at this year’s Cannes Film Fest.
Friedel won the breakthrough performer award at some regional festivals for his powerful performance as a man living next to the Auschwitz concentration camp with his family.
Sandra Hüller
France/UK • Anatomy of a Fall/The Zone of Interest
After starring in German films (Toni Erdmann), the German actress is gaining wider recognition with not one but two Oscar contenders this awards season, and her work in both films has been critically acclaimed. Hüller’s performance in Anatomy of a Fall, this year’s Palme d’Or winner at Cannes, is sensational.
Hüller opted to compete for the best supporting actress Oscar for her work in The Zone of Interest, while campaigning for best actress for Anatomy. It’s possible she becomes the first person to receive double acting nominations for non-English-language films.
Benoît Magimel
France • The Taste of Things
Juliette Binoche’s onscreen partner (and previous real-life partner — the duo share a daughter) in France’s Oscar entry has been the subject of critics’ praise since the movie’s premiere at Cannes. The Taste of Things currently holds a score of 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Kôji Yakusho
Japan • Perfect Days
Known for roles in Shall We Dance? Memoirs of Geisha and Babel, Yakusho is making the rounds on Oscars circuit for his performance in Perfect Days, Japan’s official selection, directed by three-time Oscar-nominated German Wim Wenders. Yakusho already secured the best actor prize for his remarkable performance at Cannes; his character is at the center of every frame.
