EIGHTY-FIVE countries have submitted films for consideration in the foreign-language film category for the 89th Academy Awards, the Academy announced Tuesday. Among the countries vying for Oscar’s attention is Yemen, which submitted Khadija Al-Salami’s “I Am Nojoom, Age 10 and Divorced,” its first entry ever.

    A number of the films have already made a name for themselves on the festival circuit. Among them are France’s “Elle,” directed by Paul Verhoeven; Germany’s “Toni Erdmann,” directed by Maren Ade; Chile’s “Neruda,” directed by Pablo Larrain; Palestine’s “The Idol,” directed by Hany Abu-Assad; and Italian documentary feature “Fire at Sea,” directed by Gianfranco Rosi.

    A number of other films come with a seal-of-approval from May’s Cannes Film Festival. The Canadian entry, Xavier Dolan’s “It’s Only the End of the World,” was the fest’s Grand Prix winner. “The Salesman,” from Iran, earned its director Asghar Farhadi the best screenplay prize and star Shahab Hoseeini the best actor award. Brillante Mendoza’s “Ma’ Rosa,” from the Philippines, was recognized with a best actress award for Jaclyn Jose. And Finland’s submission, “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki,” directed by Juho Kuosmanen, won the Un Certain Regard Award.

    Jonas Cuaron’s border-set thriller “Desierto,” which will represent Mexico, is set to open stateside Friday.

    And the lineup also includes “Afterimage,” the last film from the late Polish director Andrzej Wajda, who died Sunday.

    (SD-Agencies)