China’s The Wandering Earth 2 and Pakistan’s In Flames were added to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ members-only streaming service, Academy Screening Room, on Friday, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. This means that these are the respective countries’ official selections for the 2024 Oscars in the best international feature film category.
2019’s The Wandering Earth was directed by Frant Gwo and was loosely based on the 2000 short story of the same name. It became China’s fifth highest-grossing film of all time. The prequel was released in January.
China has submitted more than 20 films for an Oscar since 1979, with two going on to receive a nomination. Both were directed by Zhang Yimou. A Chinese film has not won an Academy Award in the international feature film category.
In Flames is written and directed by Zarrar Kahn and had its North American premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Pakistan has submitted a film 11 times, with one film, Joyland, making the shortlist in 2022.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to In Flames’ distributor XYZ Films for comment.
