Catalan film Estiu 1993, Spain’s candidate for the Oscars

The Catalan movie Estiu 1993 (Summer 1993) has been selected by the Spanish Cinema Academy to represent Spain in the best “Foreign Language Film” category at the 2018 Oscar awards. Carla Simón’s already well-awarded film is now one step closer to becoming a member of the most select club in the industry.

It is the second time a Catalan movie is in the race to go to the Oscars. Last time it was in 2012 with the film Pa negre (Black bread). However, if Estiu 1993 is selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it will be the first time that a film shot in the Catalan language will have made it to the final selection. On January 23, the Academy will decide which five foreign language movies are in the final round to win the statuette. The Oscars will be held on March 4 2018. 

Estiu 1993, directed by young Barcelona-born filmmaker Carla Simón, has already won the "Best First Feature Award" and “The Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for the Best Feature Film” both at the 67th edition of the Berlinale film festival. Simón also picked up awards in Cannes, Malaga and Buenos Aires, as well as at the 10th International Catalan Film Festival FIC-CAT.