The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences decided to deny registration for the Puerto Rican film América directed by Sonia Fritz in the Foreign Language Category on the basis that Puerto Rico is part of the United States of America. According to an Academy official last year was the final year for a Puerto Rican submission in this category, "it is true that we have accepted entries from Puerto Rico in the past, but this is no longer the case" was that the official wrote to the producers of the film. Since 1985 Puerto Rico had submitted 11 films for consideration in the Foreign Language Category nabbing an Academy Award nomination in 1989 for Santiago Morales' film Lo que le pasó a Santiago / Santiago, the Story of his New Life. In response to the film's denial for registration, the producer Frances Lausell has launched an online campaign to collect signatures.
