Slovakia noms "Koza" for foreign Oscar

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Slovak Film and Television Academy has announced Koza by Ivan Ostrochovsky as the country's entry in the best foreign-language film Oscar race, The Hollywood Reporter reveals.

Koza centers on Peter "Koza" Balaz, a retired former Olympic boxer, who returns to the ring to earn money and persuade his partner not to get an abortion.

Koza, Ostrochovsky's debut feature film, had its world premiere at the Berlin film festival this February. It went on to take part in several more international festivals, including goEast, where it collected the best director and FIPRESCI awards, the Vilnius film festival, where it was celebrated as the best film, the Hong Kong film festival, Tarkovsky film festival Zerkalo and Transilvania film festival.

The film was produced by Slovakia's Sentimentalfilm, Rozhlas a televizia Slovenska and Punkchart films in collaboration with the Czech Republic's Endorfilm and Ceska televise. Koza was also selected for the EFA Awards.

Since Slovakia and the Czech Republic parted ways in a move that took effect at the start of 1993, no Slovak movie has been shortlisted in the best foreign-language film category.