The Soviet Union submitted films for the American Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film between 1963 and 1991. The Foreign Language Film award is handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue. Each year, the Academy invites countries to submit their best films for competition, with only one film being accepted from each country.
The Soviet Union had a strong record in the category, receiving nine nominations between 1968–1984, including three wins: War and Peace (1967), Dersu Uzala (1975), and Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980). Eight of the nominees, including all three winners, were produced by Russian film studios.
After 1992, the country was officially dissolved and succeeded by Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Since then, the Russian Federation is the most successful country in the category, with seven nominations and one win for Burnt by the Sun.
Submissions
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film since 1956. The Foreign Language Film Award Committee oversees the process and reviews all the submitted films. Following this, they vote via secret ballot to determine the five nominees for the award.
Among the submissions were two films that sat on the shelf for several years awaiting approval from Soviet censors (1987–1988), a Japanese co-production (1975) and a documentary (1981). During the Soviet era, it was routine for productions to have cast and crew from throughout the country. However, each republic had its own film studios, and the "Republic of Production" indicates the republic of the film studio that produced the film. However, even outside of the Russian SFSR films were still produced in Russian, except for 1987 when the Soviet Union was nearing its collapse.
All the films submitted are primary in Russian, with the exception of Repentance (1987), which was in Georgian. Below is a list of the films that have been submitted by the Soviet Union for review by the academy for the award by year and the respective Academy Awards ceremony.
Year(Ceremony) Film title used in nomination Original title Director(s) Republic of production Result 1963(36th) My Name is Ivan Иваново детство 1968(41st) War and Peace Война и мир 1969(42nd) The Brothers Karamazov Братья Карамазовы Kirill Lavrov, Ivan Pyryev and Mikhail Ulyanov 1971(44th) Tchaikovsky Чайкoвский 1972(45th) The Dawns Here Are Quiet А зори здесь тихие 1973(46th) Liberation Освобождение 1974(47th) The Ferocious One Лютый 1975(48th) Dersu Uzala Дерсу Узала 1976(49th) They Fought for Their Country Они сражались за родину 1977(50th) The Ascent Восхождение 1978(51st) White Bim Black Ear Белый Бим Черное ухо 1979(52nd) Autumn Marathon Осенний марафон 1980(53rd) Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears Москва слезам не верит 1981(54th) O, Sport, You – the Peace! О спорт, ты – мир! 1982(55th) Private Life Частная жизнь 1983(56th) Vassa Васса 1984(57th) Wartime Romance Военно-полевой роман 1985(58th) Come and See Иди и смотри 1986(59th) Wild Pigeon Чужая белая и рябой 1987(60th) Repentance მონანიება 1988(61st) Commissar Комиссар 1989(62nd) Zerograd Город Зеро 1990(63rd) Taxi Blues Такси-блюз 1991(64th) Get Thee Out Изыди!
See also Cinema of the Soviet Union Moscow Strikes Back, 1942 Soviet documentary film, one of four winners at the 15th Academy Awards for Best Documentary List of Academy Award winners and nominees for Best International Feature Film List of Russian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Armenian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Azerbaijani submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Belarusian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Estonian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Georgian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Kazakhstani submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Kyrgyzstani submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Latvian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Lithuanian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Moldovan submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Tajikistani submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Ukrainian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film List of Uzbekistani submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
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