Phase I of the process saw a committee of Los Angeles-based AMPAS members narrow the list down to the following nine. During the weekend of January 21 - 23, a different committee consisting of 5 members will select the final five films that will be announced as the official nominees for best foreign language film for the Academy Awards.

The Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 25 at 5:30 am PT, with the presentation of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards airing live from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Sunday, February 27, 2011

The nine foreign language films being nominated in Phase I are:

  • Algeria, "Hors la Loi" ("Outside the Law"), Rachid Bouchareb, director;
  • Canada, "Incendies," Denis Villeneuve, director;
  • Denmark, "In a Better World," Susanne Bier, director;
  • Greece, "Dogtooth," Yorgos Lanthimos, director;
  • Japan, “Confessions," Tetsuya Nakashima, director;
  • Mexico, "Biutiful," Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, director;
  • South Africa, "Life, above All," Oliver Schmitz, director;
  • Spain, "Tambien la Lluvia" ("Even the Rain"), Iciar Bollain, director;
  • Sweden, "Simple Simon," Andreas Ohman, director