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Seven films screened at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival last fall (and one shown the previous year), were nominated for a total of 11 Academy Awards on Tuesday, with Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation adding to its long list of accolades with two nods – receiving a stunning nomination for best original screenplay in addition to its widely predicted nomination for best foreign-language film. Albert Nobbs led ADFF films with three nominations, including one for Glenn Close for best actress.
The nominations were announced by the Motion Picture Academy in Los Angeles early Tuesday morning, marking the start of the home stretch in the annual race for Oscar glory.
A Separation’s nomination for best foreign-language film was expected, – indeed it is the favorite – but the additional nod for Farhadi’s screenplay is a surprise coup. Only five foreign-language films have won the Oscar for best screenplay (The most recent one was Pedro Almodovar’s Talk To Her in 2002). No Iranian film has ever won an Oscar in a major category. Some observers are already saying Farhadi has a chance at the screenplay prize – though he will have to beat Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris) to do it. Farhadi was named Variety’s Middle East Filmmaker of the Year at last year’s ADFF, where A Separation also won the Special Jury Award.
Albert Nobbs star Glenn Close was nominated for best actress for her brave performance as a woman in disguise as a male butler in 19th-century Dublin; while Janet McTeer was nominated for best supporting actress. The film also earned a nomination for its makeup, by Martial Conneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle.
ADFF’s 2011 Opening Night film, Monsieur Lazhar, directed by Philippe Falardeau, was also nominated for best foreign-language film. Two ADFF films were nominated for best documentary feature: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, directed by Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman, which screened in the Our World competition; and Pina, Wim Wenders’ innovative 3-D profile of choreographer Pina Bausch.
Rounding out the alumni nominees from the most recent edition of the Festival, The Ides of March was nominated for best adapted screenplay (by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon). The remaining ADFF nominee, Chico & Rita – receiving a nod for best animated feature – screened in competition at the 2010 festival.
The Complete list of the Oscar Nomination 2012 is available at the Academy Awards website.
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