Nine make shortlist for Oscars foreign-lingo race

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has culled nine films from the 63 foreign-language films that qualified in the foreign- language category for the 84th Academy Awards.

The Wednesday announcement, which concludes the second round of voting prior to the Jan. 24 Oscar nominations, presented the following shortlist of contenders:

• Belgium, “Bullhead,” Michael R. Roskam, director

• Canada, “Monsieur Lazhar,” Philippe Falardeau, director

• Denmark, “Superclásico,” Ole Christian Madsen, director

• Germany, “Pina,” Wim Wenders, director

• Iran, “A Separation,” Asghar Farhadi, director

• Israel, “Footnote,” Joseph Cedar, director

• Morocco, “Omar Killed Me,” Roschdy Zem, director

• Poland, “In Darkness,” Agnieszka Holland, director

• Taiwan, “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale,” Wei Te-sheng, director

The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based members, screened the 63 eligible films between mid-October and Jan.

13. The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s executive committee, constitute the shortlist.

The shortlist will be winnowed down to the five nominees by specially invited committees in New York and Los Angeles. They will spend Jan. 20 through Jan. 22 viewing three films each day and then casting their ballots.