The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released a statement on Monday announcing that the Oscars have been expanded to 71 countries. According to the Associated Press, the Academy received numerous submissions from various countries including Austria, France and Norway.

Film lovers, who are interested in viewing other motion pictures besides the ones produced in Hollywood, will be happy to hear that the upcoming edition of the Oscars will be enriched with submissions from 71 countries. Although the competition is very strong, the Academy has already identified several films that could win the foreign-language prize.

Austria’s production “Amour” has drawn the attention of most Academy members. Director Michael Haneke’s movie has already won a prize during last May’s Cannes Film Festival. Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant, the two protagonists of the movie embody an elderly couple who is forced to cope with the problems caused by the wife’s worsening health.

This season will feature many premieres as there are countries who have announced their wish to take part in the contest for the first time. Kenya, for instance, made its first submission to the Oscars with the movie “Nairobi Half Life” produced by director David “Tosh” Gitonga.

The members of the Academy confessed that they were deeply impressed by the movie enlisted by French directors, Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. “The Intouchables” starring François Cluzet and Omar Sy illustrates the strong friendship between Philippe, a wealthy quadriplegic and Driss, his live-in attendant who comes from the ghetto.

Sweden, too, decided to take part in the race for the Oscar Award with Lasse Hallstrom’s movie “The Hypnotist”. Norway’s “Kon-Tiki” from directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg captured the audience’s attention, as well, due to its captivating story. The film chronicles the expedition that Thor Heyerdahl made through the Pacific Ocean to prove that South Americans could have settled Polynesia in pre-Columbian times .