Greece has chosen Eva Nathena’s historical drama “Murderess” to represent the country in the International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. This decision comes after a tumultuous and scandal-ridden selection process that raised questions about the legitimacy of Greece’s Oscar nomination procedures.
Out of 26 eligible films, “Murderess” emerged as the sole contender after other films withdrew in protest. The decision was announced by Deputy Minister of Culture Iasonas Fotilas on September 10, following a controversial series of events that saw the initial Oscar selection committee dismissed and replaced. The replacement committee faced further complications, with two newly appointed members resigning shortly after the selection was announced.
The film, based on a novel by Alexandros Papadiamantis, is set on a remote Greek island at the turn of the 20th century and portrays a young woman struggling against societal constraints. “Murderess” premiered at the 64th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, where it received six awards, including the Fipresci Award and audience award. It also won five Iris Awards, including Best Cinematography.
Despite the film’s acclaim, the Greek film community has expressed strong disapproval of the selection process, with critics labeling it a “disgrace” and a “theater of the absurd.” The Hellenic Film Academy has called for a reformed selection process, suggesting that future nominations be handled by the academy rather than government-appointed committees.
Deputy Minister Fotilas stated that his role was limited to appointing committee members and emphasized the need to reassess the selection process for future years. The ongoing controversy underscores significant dissatisfaction within Greece’s film industry regarding the Oscar selection process.
