The Israeli film Ajami was included Wednesday on the short list of nine foreign films announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as contender in the best foreign-language category. The number will be narrowed down to five by the time nominations in all categories are announced on February 2. Still in contention are El Secreto de Sus Ojos from Argentina, Samson & Delilah from Australia, Bulgaria's The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner, Un Prophete from France, Golden Globe winner The White Ribbon from Germany, Ajami, Kelin from Kazakhstan, Winter in Wartime from the Netherlands and from Peru, Milk of Sorrow. The Academy Award ceremony is set for March 7. Ajami, a dramatic story of crime in Jaffa that was co-directed by a Palestinian and a Jew, Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, won Best Picture at the 20th Ophir Awards presented by the Israeli Academy of Film. In the past two years, two Israeli movies have been nominated for an Oscar in this category, Waltz with Bashir and Beaufort.
