With yesterday’s announcement from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which included Lila Avilés’ Tótem in the list of 15 shortlisted films for the Best International Feature category at the 96th edition of the Oscars, Mexico has achieved the prestigious shortlist honor for the fourth consecutive time.
The three preceding films that made it to the shortlist are I'm No Longer Here / Ya no estoy aquí by Fernando Frías de la Parra in 2020, Prayers for the Stolen / Noche de fuego by Tatiana Huezo in 2021, and Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths / Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades by Alejandro González Iñárritu last year. None of these films secured a nomination.
In total, Mexico has received nominations nine times, with the most recent occurring in 2018 for Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, which also marked the North American country's first win. This marks the second time that Avilés represents Mexico at the Oscars after her debut feature The Chambermaid / La camarista secured the candidacy in 2019.
