List of Cuban submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Cuba has submitted films for consideration in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars since 1978. The award is handed out annually by the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue.[1]

As of 2010, Cuba has submitted sixteen films. Cuba received their first and only Oscar nomination for their 1994 submission, Strawberry and Chocolate, a gay-themed comedy-drama.

The Cuban nominee is selected annually by the Cuban Film Institute, also known by its Spanish acronym, ICAIC (Instituto Cubano del Arte y la Industria Cinematográficos).[2]

Submissions

Every year, each country is invited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to submit its best film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The Foreign Language Film Award Committee oversees the process and reviews all the submitted films. Following this, they vote via secret ballot to determine the five nominees for the award.[1]

The following is a list of the films submitted by Cuba in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards. All films were produced in Spanish.

Year
(Ceremony)↓
English title↓ Spanish title↓ Director↓ Result↓
1978
(51st)
Viva el Presidente El Recurso del método Littin, MiguelMiguel Littin Not Nominated
1987
(60th)
A Successful Man Un hombre de éxito Solás, HumbertoHumberto Solás Not Nominated
1988
(61st)
Letters from the Park Cartas del parque Gutiérrez Alea, TomásTomás Gutiérrez Alea Not Nominated
1989
(62nd)
Supporting Roles Papeles secundarios Rojas, OrlandoOrlando Rojas Not Nominated
1990
(63rd)
The Beauty of the Alhambra La bella del Alhambra Pineda Barnet, EnriqueEnrique Pineda Barnet Not Nominated
1991
(64th)
Hello Hemingway Hello Hemingway Perez, FernandoFernando Perez Not Nominated
1992
(65th)
Adorable Lies Adorables mentiras Chijona, GerardoGerardo Chijona Not Nominated
1994
(67th)
Strawberry and Chocolate Fresa y chocolate Tomás Gutiérrez Alea & Juan Carlos Tabíos Nominee
1996
(69th)
Think of Me Pon tu pensamiento en mĂ­ Sotto DĂ­az, ArturoArturo Sotto DĂ­az Not Nominated
1997
(70th)
Vertical Love Amor vertical Sotto DĂ­az, ArturoArturo Sotto DĂ­az Not Nominated
2002
(75th)
Nothing More Nada Cremata, Juan CarlosJuan Carlos Cremata Not Nominated
2003
(76th)
Suite Habana Suite Habana Perez, FernandoFernando Perez Not Nominated
2005:
(78th)
Viva Cuba Viva Cuba Cremata, Juan CarlosJuan Carlos Cremata Not Nominated
2006
(79th)
El Benny El Benny Sánchez, Jorge LuisJorge Luis Sánchez Not Nominated
2007
(80th)
The Silly Age La edad de la peseta Giroud, PavelPavel Giroud Not Nominated
2009
(82nd)
Fallen Gods Los dioses Rotos Daranas, ErnestoErnesto Daranas Not Nominated
2011
(84th)
Habanastation Habanastation PadrĂłn, IanIan PadrĂłn Pending[3]

Notes:

Cuba's first submission was directed by Miguel Littin, a leftist Chilean director who was nominated in this category twice, representing Mexico in 1975/76 (for Letters from Marusia) and Nicaragua in 1982/83 (for Alsino and the Condor). He also represented his native Chile in 2009.

In addition to the above films, the Dominican Republic submitted Guaguasi- a drama directed by a Cuban-American exile, set amidst the turmoil of the 1956 Cuban Revolution and filmed in the Dominican Republic- for consideration in 1983,

References: IMDB[4] Variety[5]