90 International Films from the 2021 Oscars

In the years between the World Wars, a Lithuanian geography professor attempts to persuade the government to create a reserve state abroad, hoping to prevent the country's collapse. His proposal is largely dismissed and met with resistance. However, he finds…

Haunted by his experiences in combat, a soldier finds an unexpected connection with a hopeful young volunteer dedicated to bringing peace to a country ravaged by war.

Isolated from the rest of the world, a mother becomes fiercely protective of her children when they arrive home with a young girl covered in clay. The girl speaks of spirits and people who hunt them, but these aren't just…

Following a painful divorce, Alice hasn't seen her children for two months while awaiting a custody decision. Late one night, a call from her son prompts Alice to make a drastic choice: she takes the children on a secret trip…

Peru, during the 1980s political turmoil. Georgina, a young woman from the Andes, has her newborn daughter stolen at a fraudulent health clinic. Driven by desperation, she seeks help from Pedro Campos, a solitary journalist at a prominent newspaper, and…

Sixteen-year-old Arturs's love story is shattered by the outbreak of World War I. Losing his mother and home, he joins the army hoping for solace in the newly formed national battalions of the Russian Empire. But war proves to be…

In Monterrey, Mexico, a young street gang lives for dancing to slowed-down cumbia and enjoying parties. When a misunderstanding with a local cartel leads to their leader being forced to move to the U.S., he quickly misses his home.

In a secluded fishing village, a 12-year-old girl named Hayat faces a grim fate. Tradition dictates that every family must offer a daughter to the sea creatures that live nearby, while the villagers hunt those same creatures. When her father…

Ngan harbors a secret, unrequited love for Ha Lan, a friendship that blossomed in childhood.

In Paraguay under Stroessner's dictatorship, Pastor and Dionisio discover a living person, Mario, amidst a pile of corpses. As the World Cup takes place in Argentina, the two men are forced to confront their own values and what they believe…

In the remote, frozen landscape of Finnish Lapland, Rupi spends his days working in a mine and seeking solace in drink. He dreams of escaping his bleak village and building a better life for himself.

In WWII-occupied Yugoslavia, under the Nazi-aligned Ustasha regime of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), young Dara is sent to the Jasenovac concentration camp complex in Croatia, often called "Balkan's Auschwitz."

Luisa, a 20-year-old law student, joins an Antifa group with her friends Alfa and Lenor after learning about a planned attack by a local neo-Nazi gang. As they investigate, the three young women become increasingly involved with right-wing movements and…

Wet Season follows Ling, a schoolteacher navigating infertility and caring for her ailing father-in-law. A student, Kok Wei Lun, develops feelings for her during extra Chinese tutoring. Their connection deepens as he seeks her guidance.

A woman inherits a house in her ancestral village, unaware that the community has been secretly searching for her. They believe she is the source of a curse that has afflicted them for years, and some members intend to kill…

In a picturesque mountain village in Kyrgyzstan, twelve-year-old Jekshen is an extraordinary runner. His parents are separated, and he struggles with his alcoholic father, finding solace only in his school girlfriend and his father's friends. They urge him to compete…

In Srebrenica, Bosnia, July 1995, Aida works as a UN translator. When Serbian forces seize the town, her family joins thousands seeking refuge in the UN camp. As an insider to the negotiations, Aida has access to vital information that…

LEI and WONG secretly travel to Ecuador, heading for the port city of Guayaquil. LEI intends to proceed to New York, but her plans are disrupted when she encounters CHANG, a volatile mobster who controls her destiny. WONG finds himself…

In Gaza, Issa, a 60-year-old fisherman, has harbored a secret love for Siham, a widow who works at the market. His life takes an unexpected turn when he finds an ancient statue of Apollo in his fishing net. Empowered by…

Asia is the mother of Vika, who is 17 years old. As Vika's health declines, Asia feels compelled to become more present as a mother and to fully appreciate their remaining time together.

In 1934, Bolivia is at war with Paraguay. Bolivian indigenous soldiers, including Liborio and Ticona, are lost in the harsh Chaco under the command of German Captain Kundt. Months into a search for the elusive Paraguayan enemy, they face the…

Grief-stricken after the death of his wife Ivanka, Vasil is stunned when a woman at the funeral claims Ivanka reached out from beyond. Determined to connect with his lost love, Vasil seeks help from a psychic, much to the concern…

"Toorbos" tells the story of a young woman and her people who are forced to leave their home in the Knysna forest of South Africa in the 1930s, a time when the forest was still inhabited.

A teenage girl who is being bullied finds an unexpected ally in a mysterious young man. He shields her from her tormentors as she struggles with the stress of her upcoming exams.

Saima is a mother whose child is battling cancer and a wife to a medic serving in a conflict in southern Philippines.

Four uninspired high school teachers embark on an experiment: they believe that staying perpetually tipsy will make their lives better.

After a twelve-year absence, the Chinese women's volleyball team has reached the Olympic final once more. The team’s history, marked by both triumphs and setbacks over the past three decades, is now concluding.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the Great Famine caused by the Bolsheviks devastated Kazakhstan, killing 70% of the indigenous people. In a remote Kazakh village, an eagle hunter's family battles the harsh winter and the looming threat of death. Faced…

Cleaning out her house, a woman's major renovation project unexpectedly brings her face-to-face with her ex-boyfriend's old things.

In 1962, a communist government's increase in food prices sparks a strike by workers in the small industrial town of Novocherkassk. The resulting massacre is witnessed through the perspective of a devoted party activist.

Isabelle Brodeur travels to Vietnam, the country where her adopted daughter was born. During this visually captivating trip, Isabelle experiences her daughter's homeland through the perspective of the woman who gave her life.

A family of four struggles as they grapple with unfulfilled hopes, a sudden loss, and stubborn self-respect.

A new neighbor's arrival disrupts Rannveig's routine, offering a brief respite from the unhappiness in her marriage and her strained relationship with her daughter. However, this temporary relief is followed by unforeseen difficulties that test the family's bonds.

Alice and Niklas, a young couple longing for a child, take a vacation to Sardinia to relax and refocus after unsuccessful attempts at conceiving. They encounter an Austrian family who appear to have the perfect life. However, things are not…

A couple who have been together for two decades finds their relationship strained as they face a challenging family situation. Navigating these changes, they unexpectedly begin to reconnect and rediscover their love.

In Lisbon, a Cape Verdean woman searches for remnants of her late husband, uncovering a hidden side of his life.

Following a devastating fire at a Romanian nightclub, burn victims start dying in hospitals from injuries that weren't initially fatal. Investigative journalists launch an inquiry, uncovering widespread corruption within the healthcare system and government institutions. *Collective* follows the journalists, whistleblowers,…

A sudden, widespread pandemic causes people to lose their memories. A man is enrolled in a recovery program meant to help him start over. The program involves completing daily tasks outlined by doctors on cassette tapes, and documenting his experiences…

As the 'Koreagate' scandal investigation unfolds, Park Yong-gak, a former director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency with extensive knowledge of government activities, goes into exile in the United States.

Thirteen-year-old Selva learns a startling truth: death isn't an end, but a transformation. When we die, we simply shed our physical bodies and become whatever we can imagine – wolves, goats, shadows, anything limited only by the power of the…

Twelve-year-old Ali and his three friends struggle to survive, working odd jobs and taking small risks to help their families. Their lives change when Ali is unexpectedly asked to find hidden treasure buried underground. He gathers his friends for the…

Rahat Khawaja is a respected elderly Muslim, known for his devotion to the Prophet Muhammad, expressed through his hymns and daily life. He works in real estate and cares for his ailing wife. His peaceful existence is disrupted when a…

Zenia, a hardworking Ukrainian migrant worker in Poland, provides massage services to the residents of a prosperous gated community near Warsaw. Through his work, he learns about their lives, worries, and hidden truths, becoming an unintentional confidant. Zenia's calm nature,…

Filmed over three years in Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria, and Lebanon, the film portrays the daily challenges faced by people trying to rebuild their lives after civil wars, dictatorships, foreign invasions, and the ongoing threat of ISIS.

Berlin playwright Lisa accompanies her husband Martin to Switzerland, where he works at a private school. But when her twin brother Sven's leukemia worsens, she feels compelled to return to her hometown, a decision that creates complications in her marriage.

After serving time in prison, a thief goes back to the location where he hid his stolen treasure. He discovers, instead, that the spot has become a shrine dedicated to a mysterious saint.

Seeking a fresh perspective, a teacher journeys to a remote school. There, he unexpectedly rediscovers the significance of his profession and gains a newfound appreciation for yak dung.

Facing the final stages of cancer, acclaimed Argentine-Brazilian filmmaker Héctor Babenco (1946-2016) asks his wife Bárbara Paz for a final request: to portray him as the main character in his own story of dying.

A woman and her 14-year-old daughter, a sleepwalker, are on the verge of change. Their marriage is strained, existing in a quiet crisis. They are part of a close-knit, traditional family with strong matriarchal roots. As summer arrives, filled with…

In the Algerian city of Guelma, formerly known as Heliopolis, an Algerian family experiences a typical day. However, on May 8, 1945 – the day World War II ended – Algerian demonstrations for independence from French colonial rule were violently…

Rudina journeys with her unmarried, pregnant sister, Elma, to their native Albanian village to see their father, a man of strict traditions. During the drive over the mountains, Elma devises a plan to arrange for a former classmate to pose…

Three sex workers regularly cross the border from France into Belgium for work. One very hot summer, they share a secret that creates a lasting bond between them.

This collection of eleven films by Bangladeshi filmmakers celebrates Dhaka. The city is a central character in stories ranging from young girls seeking water in a restricted area to a bank robber's failed assassination attempt and a plumber inadvertently causing…

For over twenty years, Nina and Madeleine have shared a life, and the space between their apartments. Madeleine finally promises Nina she will reveal the truth to her family. An unforeseen event helps Madeleine understand the significance of living authentically.

Karisa's urban life is disrupted when his grandmother, back in his rural hometown, is accused of witchcraft and threatened with death. He returns to investigate and discovers a disturbing reality: a blend of consumerism and Christianity is fueling animosity towards…

Amidst Christmas preparations, the US invasion of Panama ignites a series of interconnected stories. A Panamanian officer feels betrayed by his superiors. A young man tries to stop his friends from joining the fighting. A fisherman undertakes countless challenges to…

To travel to Europe and find love, Sam Ali, a Syrian refugee, agrees to a back tattoo by a controversial contemporary artist. The tattoo becomes a significant piece of art for him.

Three friends, Jelena, Ana, and Zorka, reunite three days before their 20-year high school reunion. Ana, a biochemist living in a neighboring country, has recently diagnosed herself with breast cancer. Fuki, their longtime friend who has never left their hometown,…

A daughter worries about her mother's care at a retirement home and hires private investigator Romulo to look into it. He enlists Sergio, an 83-year-old man who becomes a resident, acting as an undercover observer within the home. Sergio finds…

In rural Sub-Saharan Africa, a Fulani milkmaid searches for her missing sister and finds herself facing religious extremists. Her attempts to uncover what happened to her sister force her to confront difficult aspects of her own history.

The Venezuelan village of Congo Mirador was once a thriving community of fishermen and artists. Now, it's falling into disrepair, a miniature representation of the decline of Venezuela as a whole.

When nine-year-old Wiren meets American Dr. Young, a world of possibilities unfolds for the young deaf boy. Determined to improve his life, he leaves his rural home in Nickerie for the Kennedy boarding school in Paramaribo. He faces challenges adapting…

A recently divorced father, enraged that his daughter can’t celebrate her birthday with him, storms into her school with a birthday cake and a rifle. A hostage situation begins, and the town's mayor sees an opportunity to advance his political…

"A Chinese Tale" is a documentary following Nicaraguans as they await the realization of a long-held ambition: the construction of an interoceanic canal. The film observes the lives of those involved, focusing on their hopes and anxieties surrounding the project.…

In the mid-20th century, in a wooded valley on the border between Italy and Yugoslavia, a frugal widower forms a friendship with a young woman and assists her in emigrating to a new country in search of opportunity. Their unexpected…

In a Middle Eastern city ravaged by war and oppressive Islamic extremists who have outlawed music, Karim, a gifted musician, works to repair his damaged piano as he plans his escape to Europe.

France, 1942, under Nazi occupation. Gilles is arrested with other Jews and transported to a German concentration camp. To avoid immediate execution, he convinces the SS guards he is Persian. This deception earns him a dangerous assignment: to teach the…

Medellín, Colombia, in the 1970s, is a city marked by division and violence. Dr. Héctor Abad Gómez worries about his own children and those from poorer communities. Following a tragic family event, Héctor dedicates himself to public health initiatives for…

The film follows three individuals navigating life's paths. One strives for success as a singer. Another, a devout Christian, finds herself drawn to a young Muslim man. The third works as a sports trainer.

Huelva, Andalusia, Spain, 1936. Higinio and Rosa are newlyweds when the Civil War begins. Fearing repercussions from the Nationalist forces, Higinio takes refuge in a hidden hole he's dug within their own home.

Márta, a 40-year-old neurosurgeon, finds love and leaves her successful career in America to start anew in Budapest with her beloved. However, he doesn't meet her at their planned meeting place, the Liberty Bridge. Márta desperately searches for him, but…

Kenza lives with her father, Ouira, a practical police officer, and her grandfather, Weljo, who embraces the island's spiritual heritage, on a car wrecking yard in rural Curaçao. The two men are very different, and their contrasting views begin to…

Kamil's tranquil life with his three wives in the isolated Turkestan region is upended by the arrival of a fourth. The family experiences rapid changes, though they feel more like a disruption than a dramatic break from their established traditions.

A young man is sent to "La Maca," a prison deep in the Ivorian forest where the inmates are in charge. As the red moon rises, the prison boss chooses him to be the new "Roman," tasked with telling a…

Colmán Sharkey, a fisherman, father, and husband, agrees to shelter a stranger on the advice of a local priest. The stranger, Patsy, a former soldier, arrives just before 'the blight,' a devastating crop disease that triggered a major famine and…

In the mountains of Lesotho, an 80-year-old widow prepares for her end. However, when her village faces forced relocation for a reservoir project, she rediscovers her determination and inspires her community to fight back.

In a secluded village, the escape of a buffalo sparks a wave of intense, almost joyful violence among the inhabitants.

A father with an intellectual disability is wrongly convicted and imprisoned after the death of a commander’s child. He fights to clear his name and reunite with his daughter.

Mustafa and Salwa live in Palestinian villages just 200 meters apart, separated by a wall. This unusual situation is testing their marriage, but they try to maintain their happiness. Each night, Mustafa shines a light to say goodnight to his…

A quiet town is disrupted when an extremist group targets a local Jehovah's Witness community. Yana, the community leader's wife, struggles as her life begins to fall apart. Her world is further shaken by the arrival of a detective and…

Helsinki, 1945. With the war over, painter Tove Jansson experiences newfound artistic and social freedom. While pursuing her painting, the charming stories about the Moomin characters she told to frightened children during the bombing, quickly gain popularity and spread internationally.

Following years of unsuccessful fertility treatments, Satoko and her husband Kiyokazu choose to adopt. Six years later, after welcoming their son Asato, Satoko has left her job to focus on her husband and child. Their family enjoys a quiet life…

Based on a true story, the film explores a childhood friendship shattered by the brutal Hamidian massacres. These atrocities, orchestrated by the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Abdul Hamid II (1894-1896), deeply impacted the lives of those involved.

In the early 1900s, herbalist Jan Mikolasek gained fame and wealth by treating many illnesses with unusual methods. A symbol of Czechoslovakia before World War II, he was highly regarded during both Nazi occupation and the communist era, with each…

Retired General Enrique is confined to his mansion by large protests, accused of genocide against the Mayan people. Abandoned by his staff, the angered general and his family are forced to confront the consequences of his actions as they experience…

Soon after Muzamil's birth, the village elder foretells he will die at twenty. Unable to bear this prophecy, Muzamil's father departs. Sakina raises Muzamil alone, becoming fiercely protective. On his nineteenth birthday, Muzamil reaches the age predicted by the elder.

In 1953 Dominican Republic, under the oppressive dictatorship of Leonidas Trujillo, a film noir drama unfolds. When a group of patients escape from Nigua Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Antonio Zaglul is brought in to restore order and repair the institution's damaged…

Exil follows a foreign-born chemical engineer who experiences discrimination and bullying in his workplace, leading to a profound identity crisis.

Alfredo's death triggers a crisis for his children. As they face the impending sale of their childhood beach house – filled with shared memories – their unresolved conflicts erupt into open hostility.

Three Macedonian women navigate challenges of bodily autonomy, tradition, loyalty, pregnancy, and adoption. Their journey isn't about revolutionizing society, but their fight to become mothers transforms them into compelling heroines. These three poignant stories – one set in the Middle…