Spanish-Language Cinema Notably Excluded From Oscars Shortlist Besides Controversial 'Emilia Pérez'

emilia perez cast — Monica Schipper/Getty Images

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards the coveted Oscars, released the shortlist of films competing for the 2025 Best International Feature Film category on December 17.

85 countries submitted feature films to be considered for the category and this year's selection of movies includes productions from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. However, unlike previous years with multiple Latin American entries, only one film from the region advanced to the next round, and it isn't in Spanish.

Which Latin American films qualified for the 2025 Oscars?

The sole Latin American contender is Brazil's 'I'm Still Here.' Starring Fernanda Torres, a 2025 Golden Globe nominee, the film tells the story of a family torn apart by the country's military dictatorship in the 1970s.

Directed by the Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles, the production is expectedly in Portuguese. However, there is one Spanish-language film still in contention, sparking considerable debate.

'Emilia Pérez,' directed by the French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, represents France despite featuring Spanish and English dialogue and stars such as Spain's Karla Sofía Gascón, Dominican-American Zoe Saldaña, Mexican-American Selena Gomez, and Mexican actress Adriana Paz. The film's narrative also focuses on Mexican characters.

Spanish-speaking critics have also criticized the characters' accents in Spanish (particularly Gomez's) and accused the film of "poverty porn," arguing that it portrays Mexico inauthentically through European biases. Nevertheless, it has been widely praised at film festivals and audiences alike.

Although it was primarily filmed in Spanish, Emilia Pérez qualifies to represent France since over 51% of its production and funding came from that country. Last year's winner, 'The Zone of Interest,' a Holocaust film set in German-occupied Poland featuring German actors, was the United Kingdom's submission for the category.

Notable Spanish-language Latin American favorites that were excluded include Mexico's 'Sujo,' Argentina's El 'Jockey,' and Chile's 'El Lugar de la Otra.'