(Ecns.cn)--Although there are five months left before the 84th Academy Awards, contestants from 59 countries and regions have already prepared to compete for the foreign language film category.
Among the 59 films, three films from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been accepted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. But if Chinese filmmakers have learned anything from history, it's that their destinies remain far from certain.
Dream for Chinese filmmakers
In 1979 China began submitting films for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The award is handed out annually by the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the U.S. that contains primarily non-English dialogue.
Over the years, China has submitted over 20 films for Oscar consideration, but only two have been nominated. Holding an Oscar at the Kodak Theater seemed like a pipe dream for many Chinese filmmakers until the year 2001, when "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" directed by Chinese American Ang Lee won the Best Foreign Language Film award.
The endowment meant something for many Chinese directors and triggered heated competition for the award. But the road to the Oscars was not as smooth as many had expected.
Even films by famous Chinese directors like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige failed or narrowly missed nomination.
Last year, three Chinese films were submitted simultaneously to the 83rd Academy Awards, but no one from China was able to snatch the statuette at the renowned international film event.
Since "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon," no other Chinese film has managed to win the prize again.
