Both films vying for best international feature film at the 96th Academy Awards have a US distributor on board, a key factor in the Oscar campaign.

Aki Kaurismäki’s tragi-comedy Fallen Leaves had its world premiere at the last Cannes Film Festival where it won the Jury Prize. It will receive a FIPRESCI Grand Prix in San Sebastian and is shortlisted for the European Film Awards.

The Finnish Oscar committee described the film as “a simple, classic love story which conveys its observations through an innocent fairy-tale. The small but big story resonates internationally and its success abroad is already significant.”

The love story between two lonely people (played by Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen) was produced by Aki Kaurismäki’s Sputnik with Bufo’s Misha Jaari and Mark Lwoff. The national premiere via Bufo’s theatrical distribution arm B-Plan is set for Friday September 15. The US release via MUBI is set for November 17, 2023.

Last time Aki Kaurismäki was nominated for an Academy Award - best foreign language film was in 2003 with The Man Without a Past.

Iceland’s Oscar choice Godland by Hlynur Pálmason had its world premiere at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard 2022 and went on collecting a dozen awards including the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera main prize in San Sebastian.

The Icelandic Oscar committee described the film as “a multifaceted film that challenges the viewer by asking universal questions about the existence and purpose of man in a brave and persistent way.”

The drama set in late 19th century was jointly produced by Iceland’s Join Motion Pictures, and Denmark’s Snowglobe. Janus Films will handle the US release.

The final nominations for the 96th Academy Awards will be announced January 23, 2024 and awards ceremony will be held March 10, 2024.