Each country is given a single entry for the Oscar’s Best International Feature award. This makes a nation’s selection a representation of its most esteemed work from the year. Iconic movies such as Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite (2019) and Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest (2023) are recent award winners, garnering a larger Western audience for their works.

For the upcoming Oscar season, Spain has selected Saturn Return as their entry for international feature. The film’s director, Isaki Lacuesta, made waves this year during the Malaga Film Festival by winning Best Picture and Best Director for his work on Saturn Return.

The film is a mockumentary centered around Spanish indie rock band Los Planetas. Lacuesta, known for films such as One Year, One Night, competed with fellow Spanish films The Blue Star and Marco as Spain’s Oscar choice. Saturn Return was sold by Latido Films.

The story centers around the band following its inception in the late ‘90s. Due to the band members’ impairment throughout their careers, the audience is left in the dark as to how much of the narrative is being comprehended by the on-screen players themselves. Despite this, Variety identifies Saturn Return’s message as “artistic triumph against adversity.”

Other entries which have been announced include:

• Egypt: Flight 404
• Israel: Come Closer
• Algeria: Algiers
• Palestine: From Ground Zero
• Turkey: Life
• Iraq: Baghdad Messi
• Nepal: Shambala
• Kenya: Nawi
• Senegal: Dahomey
• Georgia: The Antique
• Belgium: Julie Keeps Quiet
• Hungary: Semmelweis
• Czech Republic: Waves
• Cambodia: Meeting With Pol Pot
• Morocco: Everybody Loves Touda
• South Korea: 12.12.: The Day
• Japan: The Cloud
• Kyrgyzstan: Heaven Is Beneath Mother’s Feet
• Germany: The Seed of the Sacred Fig
• Lithuania: Drowning Dry
• Uruguay: Hay una puerta ahí
• Taiwan: Old Fox
• Latvia: Flow
• Austria: The Devil’s Bath
• Ireland: Kneecap