Dutch Oscar candidate, Bluebirdhas been rejected for this season's Academy Awards. The film was first made fortelevision and therefore does not qualify. Bluebirddid get its theatrical release, but only after its premiere on television.

Producer Egmond Film tried topersuade the Academy to accept Bluebirdbut to no avail. The Netherlandswill now not attend this year's Academy Award for best foreign picture.

This coming-of-age story is about a young girl who finds herself suddenly being bullied at school. The unpleasantsituation hardens the teenager and pushes her life in the wrong direction asshe gradually becomes a lonely outcast.

The Dutch feature has been awarded the Glass Bear in Berlinfor best children's film and the Grand Prix at the Montreal InternationalChildren's Film Festival.