"On the Other Side" has been selected as Croatia's official selection for the Academy Awards. Directed by Zrinko Ogresta, the film made its world premiere this year at the Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama sidebar. It also went on to receive the Special Mention from the Europa Cinema Label jury.

"On the Other Side" has been praised by critics for its gripping drama and has played in festivals around the world including Lima, Karlovy Vary and Sarajevo. It also represents the third time a film by Ogresta is submitted to compete for the Academy Awards. Previously his films "Washed Out" and "Red Dust" were submitted. Both films were highly regarded in the 90s but did not get nominated.

Croatia's history with the Academy is relatively short as the country started submitting in the 90s after the fall of the Soviet Union and once it separated from Yugoslavia. The country has submitted 25 times but has never been nominated. It has also never made the January shortlist.

Last year the country submitted "The High Sun," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard slate and won the Jury Prize. It was the first film by the country to show at Cannes since 1991.

Every year multiple countries submit films to compete in the Foreign Language category. A number of high profile films have already been submitted including Golden Lion winner "From Afar" from Venezuela and Cannes Film Festival selection "Sieranevada" from Romania.

Last year Hungary took home its second Oscar for "Son of Saul" by Laszlo Nemes. That film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, competed against 81 other countries and was regarded as the front-runner when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Other recent winners were Poland's "Ida," Italy's "The Great Beauty" and Austria's "Amour."

The deadline for submissions is Oct. 3 with the Academy announcing a list of eligible films later that month. On Jan. 17 the Academy will announce the nine finalists from among the eligible films. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 24 and the winner will be announced at the Oscar ceremony on Feb. 26, 2017.

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