Multiple award-winning Caroline Link's Nowhere In Africa has been chosen as the German entry to compete for the best foreign-language Oscar.

The nine-person independent jury of experts, which was appointed by the Export Union of German Cinema to select the German entry to compete for the best foreign language film Oscar, has chosen Caroline Link's Nowhere In Africa (Nirgendwo In Afrika).

It is the second time that a film by Link has been entered by Germany for the Oscar competition: in 1997, her feature debut Beyond Silence (Jenseits Der Stille) was also nominated into the final five and then picked up Miramax for North American distribution.

Commenting on their decision, the jury noted that 'Caroline Link's film tells in impressive images the epic story of a German-Jewish family in exile.'

The production by MTM Medien & Television Muenchen, co-produced by Constantin Film, Bavaria Film and MC One, took almost Euros 8m at the German box office and won several national awards such as the Bavarian Film Award (Producers Prize) and five Lolas at the German Film Awards 2002 as well as international recognition such as the Jury Special Prize and FIPRESCI Prize at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Best Feature Film in Jerusalem and the Audience Award at the 10th Hamptons International Film Festival.

The US theatrical release by Zeitgeist Films of Link's third feature is planned for early 2003.