Denmark has chosen Magnus von Horn's costume drama The girl with the needle as a nominee for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2025 Oscars.
Set in Copenhagen in 1919, the film stars Vic Carmen Sonne (Vacation, Land of God) as Karoline, a young seamstress who finds herself in dire straits when her wealthy lover (Joachim Fjelstrup) impregnates her but refuses to marry her. When she finds herself unemployed and pregnant, Karoline has two bad options: abort the baby with a knitting needle or work for the shady suburban adoption agency.
The girl with the needle premiered in competition at Cannes and had its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month. The film's strong critical reception — DAYThe review called it a “dark and urgently topical Danish drama” that “builds to a devastating climax, as tense as a piano string” — as the timely subject matter should make it. The girl with the needle a worthy candidate for the international award.
Mubi acquired the film in a multi-territory deal from Cannes and holds the rights to it The girl with the needle in North America, UK-Ireland, Latin America, Germany, Austria, Italy, Türkiye and India.
Denmark has long been a force to be reckoned with at the Oscars, with 14 nominations and four wins, the most recent of which went to Thomas Vinterberg. Another round in 2021.
The 96th Academy Awards nominations deadline is November 14, 2024. The shortlist for Best International Feature Film will be announced on December 17. Nominations will be announced on January 17, 2025. The 2025 Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 2.