Schweiger, Petzold and Von Trotta on German Oscar Short List

COLOGNE, Germany - New films from Til Schweiger, Margarette von Trotta, Christian Petzold and Leander Haussmann are among the short list candidates for Germany's entry for the 2013 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

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Schweiger's action thriller Guardian Angels, von Trotta's biopic Hannah Arendt and Petzold's East German period drama Barbara are arguably the front runners in the short-list, which also includes Haussmann's tragicomedy Hotel Lux and the neo-Nazi drama Kriegerin from first-time director David Wnendt. Other German Oscar contenders are Ulrike Schamoni's Abscheid von den Froschen and Die Verlorene Zeit from director Anne Justice.

Perhaps the most unusual title on the shortlist is the docu-drama This Ain't California from director Marten Persiel, which combines found footage with recreated scenes from the underground skateboarding scene in communist East Germany.

An independent jury will meet on August 29 and 30 to pick the official Oscar nominee, which will be announced August 30. The winner will be Germany's official candidate for Best Foreign Language Film for the 85th Oscars.