Why are foreign films/actors sometimes nominated in other categories other than the Best Foreign Film category (for example, Benigni's Life is Beautiful or Moreno's Maria Full of Grace)? If the Oscars do include actors/movies from anywhere in the world in other categories, then how come there aren't often more foreign films/actors in the other categories? There are tons of better performances/movies from around the world than many of the American/British films that are Oscar nominated every year.

This then leads to my other question: isn't it not fair to the foreign movies/actors to not have an equal chance of wining if they are in another category due to most Americans not being able to see those foreign films except in big cities (NYC, LA)? According to Oscar polls, Marion Cottilard and Persepolis have no chance of winning due to no one seeing these films. But then again, all the Oscar voters have seen all the films nominated, so do those voters consider what the American people have seen or do they just go by their own liking? If they do go by their own liking, than Marion Cottilard should win the Best Actress and Persepolis should win best Animated Film (which are both currently ranked at the bottom of all these American Oscar polls).

I just find it amazing that this year's foreign film noms - none of the final five saw distribution in the US - in the DC area only 'Beaufort' was screened in December at the DC Jewish Film Festival.

Yeah, I really wish I could watch these year's foreign film nominees. I'm surprised as hell 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days isn't on there.

I think it's just that they consider it largely a show for American films, but if a particular foreign film or performance stands out in some way and gets enough attention, they will nominate it. They don't want to turn it into the World Film Awards, but they don't want to completely ignore foreign films either.

Recalling Maria Full of Grace, i think i remeber reading that because it was mainly financed by HBO, that they wouldn't allow it to compete in the forgien language cattogory, since each country nominates a movie. Also remeber reading La Viv en Rose and Lust Caution weren't ellegible either

City of God was up for Director but not for Foreign Film. I'm guessing the home country of the film didn't submit it.