Earlier this week, Kaurismäki said that he did not approve of his film "Lights in the Dusk" being entered in the Oscars competition. He said his decision was motivated by his opposition to the current US administration's foreign policy.
In 2003, Kaurismäki's "Man Without a Past" was nominated for the foreign language award, but he declined to attend the gala Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles, citing his opposition to the war in Iraq.
If "Lights in the Dusk" does not compete, Finland will not be allowed to submit another film, an academy spokesperson said.
A record 61 countries are in the running for the best foreign language film Oscar, announced the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Thursday in Los Angeles. Five finalists will be voted on in January 2007, ahead of the 79th Annual Academy Awards to be held on February 25. "Dialogue" Begun with Academy The Beverly Hills-based Motion Picture academy said Mark Johnson, chairman of the foreign language committee, has begun "a dialogue" with Kaurismäki to try to change his mind. No further details were disclosed. The 49-year-old Kaurismäki has asked the Oscars academy to allow Finland to submit another film. The Finnish selection committee chose "Lights in the Dusk" as the Finnish entry last month without consulting Kaurismäki or his production company. "Lights in the Dusk" is the final segment of Kaurismäki's trilogy of films dealing with social marginalisation. The second movie, "Man Without a Past", won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002, as well as the Best Actress award for Kati Outinen. YLE24, Reuters, DPA