94th Academy Awards - The Zone of Interest wins first International Feature Oscar for UK; confronts present-day dehumanisation

As predicted, the International Feature Oscar has just gone to Jonathan Glazer's seminal Holocaust film, The Zone of Interest. The United Kingdom has entered 20 films in this category; however, this is their first winner.

Film synopsis and cast

Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller portray Rudolf Höss, commandant of Auschwitz, and his wife Hedwig, attempting to create a dream life for their family in a house and garden just a short wall away from the Nazi death camp in The Zone of Interest, a German-language film based on Martin Amis' 2014 novel of the same name. We hardly get a hint as to what's going on over there.

While accepting the International Prize, Glazer stated that they made all their choices to reflect and confront us in the present, not to say look what they did then, but rather look what they do now. All of their lives, past and present, have been impacted by dehumanisation, and their film depicts its darkest manifestation.

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A statement on present-day dehumanisation

As he continued to applaud, the speaker stated that they currently stand here as men who reject their Jewish identity and that the Holocaust is being exploited by an occupation that has caused conflict for numerous innocent individuals. He added, "Whether the victims of October 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanisation, how do we resist?"

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The Zone of Interest, an A24 production, won the Grand Prix and the FIPRESCI Prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival after its May debut. Not only that, but it also won sound, British Film of the Year, and film not made in English at the BAFTAs. Worldwide, it has made more than $24 million.

Nominations for The Zone of Interest totalled five heading into the evening, including best picture and director.

Competition in the International Feature category

In the International Feature category, other films from Italy, Japan, Spain, and Germany were Io Capitano by Matteo Garrone, Perfect Days by Wim Wenders, Society of the Snow by J.A. Bayona, and The Teacher's Lounge by Ilker Catak.

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