The entrants include Kenya, a first time hopeful, with director David ‘Tosh’ Gitonga’s Nairobi Half Life and early favourite The Intouchables from France.
Also competing for gold in 2013 are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greenland, Iceland, India, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Ukraine, Venezuela and Vietnam, among other nations.
The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on 10 January (13). The Oscars will be presented on 24 February (13) at the newly-renamed Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Last week (ends05Oct12), comedian/writer Seth MacFarlane was announced as the host of the ceremony.