MUMBAI: Filmmakers from Austria, France, Germany, Israel and Japan will participate in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ annual Foreign Language Film Award Nominees Symposium on 21 February at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Moderated by Foreign Language Film chair Mark Johnson, the program will feature the directors (subject to availability) of this year’s nominated foreign language films in a live onstage discussion addressing such issues as art, politics and the challenges of their profession.

The two-hour event will also present clips from all of the nominated films.

The 2008 Foreign Language Film nominees are:

Austria, Revanche, Götz Spielmann, director

France, The Class, Laurent Cantet, director

Germany, The Baader Meinhof Complex, Uli Edel, director

Israel, Waltz with Bashir, Ari Folman, director

Japan, Departures, Yojiro Takita, director

Admission is free, but advance tickets are required. This event is sold out. A standby line will form at the theater’s west doors on the day of the event. Standby numbers will be assigned at approximately 8 a.m. Any available tickets will be distributed shortly before the program begins.