Jean-Pierre Jeunet will be aiming for the Best Picture Oscar with his latest pic,
A Very Long Engagement with Audrey Tautou and Jodie Foster instead of Best Foreign Language Film. Too bad most of us won't see it until early 2005. From
Variety:
Quote:
Helmer Jean-Pierre JeunetJean-Pierre Jeunet's "A Very Long Engagement" will not be eligible as France's Oscar submission for foreign-language film, so the WWI drama's backers are setting their sights on a best picture nomination instead.
Pic reunites star Audrey TautouAudrey Tautou with her "Amelie""Amelie" director and also toplines a French-speaking Jodie FosterJodie Foster.
The film's Oct. 27 French release was set 15 months ago when Warner Bros. Intl. agreed to finance the project. Under old Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences rules, a film had until Oct. 31 to debut in its country of origin. But last year, with the Oscarcast going a month earlier, the foreign-lingo eligibility period was switched, with Sept. 30 as the cutoff date.
When Warner execs realized that the switch would mean foreign-language ineligibility, they decided to keep the French opening date and target the best picture category as well as other Oscar races.
That will be a priority for Mark GillMark Gill, president of the fledgling Warner Independent shingleshingle. Gill learned Oscar strategy working alongside Harvey WeinsteinHarvey Weinstein when Miramax successfully campaigned for best picture nominations for foreign-language pics "Il Postino" and "Life Is Beautiful."
"This was an unexpected disappointment that has revealed itself to be a tremendous opportunity," Gill said. "I had a part in helping those foreign films get nominated for best picture before, and the quality of this film makes 'A Very Long Engagement' every bit as promising as those other two."...
Warner Independent will platform the film on Nov. 26, broaden to 200 screens on Dec. 22 and add screens in January.
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~Edwin