Colombia is going to the Oscars next month.
Director Ciro Guerra’s “Embrace of the Serpent” (El Abrazo de la Serpiente) was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in the 88th annual Academy Awards. The nominees were announced Thursday morning.
It’s the first time that a Colombian work has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.
The black and white film cuts back and forth between the turn of the 20th century and the 1940s deep in the Colombian Amazon.
Foreign explorers travel down the river searching for a flower with healing powers alongside a shaman whose tribe was decimated by foreigners, leaving him alone in the jungle.
Along the journey, timelines blur and memories become part of the present as the worlds of colonial powers and traditional cultures collide.
The other Best Foreign Language Film nominees are “Mustang” from France, “Son of Saul” from Hungary, “Theeb” from Jordan and “A War” from Denmark.
“Embrace of the Serpent” also took home the Art Cinema Award at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
The film was among those on the short list for foreign language film Oscar nominations prior to Thursday’s announcement.
“The Revenent,” the latest film from Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu and starring Leonardo DiCaprio locked down the most nominations with 12, including for Best Picture and Best Director.
Other Best Picture nominees include “Bridge of Spies,” “Spotlight,” “The Big Short,” “The Martian,” “Brooklyn” and “Room.”
“Mad Max: Fury Road” also garnered multiple nominations, including Best Director but came up short in the Best Picture category.
“Embrace of the Serpent” stars Nilbio Torres, Jan Bijvoet, Antonio Bolivar and Brionne Davis.
It is the third feature film from director Ciro Guerra. His other works include The Wind Journeys (Los Viajes del Viento) and The Shadow of the Walker (La Sombra del Caminante).
Guerra, 34, was born in the department of Cesar.
The 88th Academy Awards presentation will be held on Feb. 28 with host Chris Rock.
