details
171 min (Hindi)
starring
superstar Aamir Khan (also the star of foreign film nominee Lagaan)
synopsis
Student actors make a film about India's past under British rule in the 1920s.
misc info
Rumored to be a big hit with Golden Globe voters.
the finalists were:
Bhook (Martahi), Amma Chepindi (Telugu), Krrish (Roshan) Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Johar), Yun Hota To Kya Hota (Shah) Lage Raho Munnabhai, (Hirani), Corporate (Bhandarkar), and Omkara (Bhardwaj)
academy reaction:
Screening 11/04

details
110 min (Arabic)
starring
Aseel Adel,
Bashir Al Majid.
Mohamed Hashim
synopsis
The story of three people within the bombed ruins of a psychiatric asylum --set in 2003 during the American "Shock and Awe" campaign.
misc info
...
not selected
Half Moon was originally announced as their submission but they sent Dreams instead.
academy reaction:
Screening 01/09

Readers who contributed:
Abhinav, A.D., Alberto, Aldo, Alexander, Ali, Alvaro, Andres, Andrew, Arietro, Armando, Boyd, Carsten, César, Christian, Cristian, Dario, David, Eduardo, Elka, Emily, Engin, Grace, Irvin, Jason, Karoll, Ken, Kevin, Klemen, Krister, Lyn, Macoco, Manolis, Marc, Marcelo, Marco, Marcos, Mauricio, Michael, Mickey, Mikkel, Montse, Nedim, Orlando, Ralph, Ramon, Rodney, Ronald, Ryan, Sagun, Sébastien, Sid, Sina, Stoeker, Uri, WZ, and Yonatan


Notable but not submitted:
Invisible Waves (Thailand) Requiem (Germany) Mezcal (Mexico) Alatriste (Spain) 12:08 East of Bucharest (Romania) The Host (Korea), Time (Korea), Aviva My Love (Israel) Zuzu Angel (Brazil)

Apparent Academy Rejections / Disqualifications
(Announced as submitting but does not appear on the final list)
My Name is Justine (Luxembourg)

Countries that did not submit this year
South Africa -Last Years Winner