The Academy Award nominations were revealed on January 23. As we approach this year’s ceremony, I’m looking at nominees in some of the categories. Today, it’s Best International Features. The nominees appear in ascending order according to my preference.

No. 5: I’m Still Here
About: Fernanda Torres does a nice job in the lead role of this film about political oppression and one family in Brazil. It’s sadly a story we’ve seen before, though this has some strong, emotional moments. Based on a true story, there is a bit of light at the end of this tunnel. It’s a solid film in a strong year, but it sits at No. 5 for me despite also being a Best Picture nominee.

No. 4: The Girl With the Needle
About: It was a big year for Mubi between this film and The Substance. I thought this was creative, and the choice to film in black-and-white added a bit to this story. It’s worth checking out now on streaming.

No. 3: Emilia Perez
About: This was the most nominated film of the year with 13 nominations. It’s an impressive achievement and a daring concept for a film both in terms of style (a musical) and story. I liked it but I didn’t love it, so it ends up in the middle on this list.

No. 2: Flow
About: I talked about this two weeks ago when we looked at animated films. I love the heart and creativity here. This was a worthy entry in both these categories.

No. 1: The Seed of the Sacred Fig
About: For me, there wasn’t a lot separating these five films. In fact, I could make a case for any of them to win the award. But when it comes to personal preference, the emotional depth of this story and the style with which its told resonated most strongly with me of the five films in this field.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.