Austria has selected Joy, a sex-trafficking drama from director Sudabeh Mortezai, to be its contender for the 2020 Oscar race in the international feature film category.
Anwulika Alphonsus stars as the eponymous Joy — a Nigerian woman brought to Austria as a sex worker who is called on to supervise Precious (Mariam Sanusi), a new recruit who is not ready to accept her fate. Angela Ekeleme co-stars as Madam, Joy’s exploiter.
Joy premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last year where it won the Europa Cinemas Label prize for best film. Joy also won best film at last year’s London Film Festival. It was the unanimous nominee from Austria’s nomination committee.
Austria has been nominated four times for the Oscar in what used to be called the Best Foreign Language Film category, and has won twice: for Stefan Ruzowitzky’s The Counterfeiters in 2007 and for Michael Haneke’s Amour in 2012.
The nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards will take place Jan. 13 and the Oscar ceremony will be held Feb. 9.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
-
Awards
Mindy Kaling, Bruce Springsteen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus Among Honorees of White House’s National Medals of Arts
![]()
-
international
Ed Sheeran Goes on Intimate Journey in New Disney+ Docuseries ‘Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All’
![]()
-
Mark Twain Prize
Adam Sandler’s Starry Friends Toast His Comic Legacy as He Receives Mark Twain Humor Prize
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
Jason Ritter
Jason Ritter Jokes His First Hollywood Job Was a “Full-on Nepotism Hire” Thanks to His Dad John Ritter
![]()
