25/01/2005 - The Old World is eyeing at the prestigious statuette with 4 titles candidates for the Best foreign language film, aside Mike Leigh's Vera Drake, nominated for Best director, original screenplay, and Best actress

Four titles out of five competing for Best foreign language film are European: As It Is in Heaven (Sweden), The Chorus (France), Downfall (Germany) and The Sea Inside (Spain). At the same time the British film Vera Drake, Gold Lion winner at the last Venice Film Festival, will be up for three Oscars: Best director and original screenplay for Mike Leigh and Best Acress in a leading role for Imelda Staunton).

Europe is aiming at the prestigious statuettes thanks to nominations in other categories as well: the Chorus is running for the Best song with "Look To Your Path" ("Vois Sur Ton Chemin") and A Very Long Engagementby French Jean Pierre Jeunet is competing for Best art direction and Best cinematography.
Although disappointed by the exclusion of Gianno Amelio, Italy is still represented by the co-productionThe Sea Inside (Lucky Red) and the multi-nominatedHotel Rwanda (Mikado), while Martin Scorsese's The Aviator will give Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo the opportunity to compete respectively for the eight time for Best art direction and for the sixth time for Best set decoration.. Another Italian candidate is Luigi Falorni, co-director of the documentary feature The Story of the Weeping Camel.
The Oscar winners will be announced on February 27th at the Kodak Theatre In Los Angeles.