Academy Award nominations won’t be announced until January 13, but the 2020 Oscar race is heating up. Submissions for the International Feature category closed earlier this month, and now the Academy has revealed the list of films submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature category. Of 32 films vying for a nod, five are directed or co-directed by women, amounting to about 16 percent of the hopefuls.
“Frozen’s” highly anticipated sequel, “Frozen II” is among the titles is the running. Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck will reunite audiences with sisters Anna and Elsa as they venture outside Arendelle to an enchanted land in the hopes of finding answers about Elsa’s powers. Also competing for a spot is Jill Culton and Todd Wilderman’s “Abominable,” an adventure story about three teenagers who help a Yeti return to his family. “Frozen II” and “Abominable” are among the most high profile features up for honors.
Other films in the running include Zabou Breitman and Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec’s “The Swallows of Kabul” and Anca Damian’s “Marona’s Fantastic Tale.” The former is a portrait of two couples living under Taliban control and the latter sees a dog reflecting on all of her previous owners. “This Magnificent Cake!” has also been submitted. Directed by Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roel, the anthology film is set in late 19th century Africa and tells the story of five different characters.
The 2020 Oscars will be held February 9.
