Five Academy Award-nominated international films come to Violet Crown Cinema

Travel around the world without leaving the comfort of Santa Fe by viewing the Academy Award-nominated international feature films coming to Violet Crown Cinema from Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9.

Evertgoers can watch select films nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

Barr Potter, collaborator with the Santa Fe International Film Festival, said the event was something he had been trying to do for years, being a member of the Academy since 1985.

Potter used to volunteer to be on the committees that screened the foreign films being submitted for consideration and best film.

While working for the committee, Potter would see incredible films that were not as popular because they did not receive proper exposure and wanted to create a community event where international films were the star of the show. After meeting Jacques Paisner, artistic director for the festival, the two, along with Violet Crown owner Bill Banowsky, created an event for cinephiles curated to highlight foreign films.

“We put this together because we all believe in film, and we think that there is an audience for just this type of focused event that will bring all these films to a very grateful audience,” Potter said.

Potter added that the films selected for the weekend are not only great movies — they’re considered the best of the best. The Best International Feature Film award does not require a U.S. release.

“They’ve gone through a very rigorous screening process, and they had to be submitted by their country as the one film (each) country was entitled to submit,” he said. “Then it gets screened by members of the Academy to narrow down the field, which is usually about 80 or 90 pictures a year.”

Violet Crown will feature: “Flow,” “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” “I’m Still Here,” “The Girl with the Needle” and “Emilia Pérez.” On Sunday, three of the films — “I’m Still Here,” “Emilia Pérez” and “Flow” won Academy Awards.

Of the selection of movies, Pasiner said “Flow” and “I’m Still Here” are the highlights of the film weekend, though there is something for everyone.

“In particular ‘Flow.’ ‘Flow’ is one of the most popular films of the year,” he said. “It’s animated, so you can bring the kids. There’s some really powerful films that are playing during this program and I’m really excited for people to get out for it.”