‘The Girl With the Needle’ and ‘A Bear Named Wojtek’ are among the films vying for Oscar recognition, with the final nominations to be announced on January 17, 2025.

Oscars 2025: Sensational co-production with Polish artists

‘The Girl With the Needle’, a Danish-Swedish-Polish co-production, was shortlisted in the highly competitive Best International Feature Film category.

The film is one of 15 that have progressed to the next stage of voting after being selected from 85 countries and regions that were eligible.

Directed by Magnus von Horn, a graduate of Poland’s renowned Łódź Film School, the film tells the heart-wrenching story of Karoline, a determined factory worker played by Vic Carmen Sonne.

Set in post-World War I Copenhagen, Karoline is grappling with an unwanted pregnancy resulting from an affair with her employer.

Desperate to terminate the pregnancy, she embarks on a perilous journey that highlights the harsh realities of women’s lives in a male-dominated society.

The film has already garnered critical acclaim for its intense performances and evocative storytelling, with von Horn’s direction being hailed for its meticulous attention to historical detail and emotional depth.

A bear adopted by the army

Meanwhile, ‘A Bear Named Wojtek’, which has been shortlisted in the Best Animated Short Film category, tells the remarkable true story of Wojtek, a Syrian brown bear who was adopted by Polish soldiers after they escaped the Soviet gulags during World War II.

The bear accompanied the troops of General Władysław Anders’ Polish II Corps as they fought their way through Italy, famously taking part in the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Out of 88 films that qualified for the Best Animated Short Film category, the film is one of the 15 that made it to the next stage, thanks to its compelling narrative and unique animation style.

Written by Wojciech Lepianka and directed by Iain Gardner, the short features an international voice cast that includes both Polish talents and Scottish actors such as Bill Paterson and Richard Gadd (famous for his role in the Netflix psycho-thriller hit Baby Reindeer).

The final list of nominations will be announced on January 17, 2024, with the highly anticipated ceremony set for March 3.