The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has named the nine films that have made it to the shortlist for the best foreign language Oscar.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Days Of Glory Algeria (dir Rachid Bouchareb)
Water Canada (dir Deepa Mehta)
After The Wedding Denmark (dir, Susanne Bier)
Avenue Montaigne France (dir Daniele Thompson)
The Lives Of Others Germany (dir Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck)
Pan's Labyrinth Mexico (dir Guillermo del Toro)
Black Book The Netherlands (dir Paul Verhoeven)
Volver Spain (dir Pedro Almodovar)
Vitus Switzerland (dir Fredi M Murer).

Foreign Language Film nominations for 2006 are being determined in two phases. The Phase I committee, comprising several hundred Los Angeles-based members, screened the 61 eligible films and their ballots determined the shortlist.

A Phase II committee, made up of 10 randomly selected members from the Phase I group, joined by additional ten-member contingents in New York and Los Angeles, will view the shortlisted films and select the five 2006 nominees for the category.

Phase II screenings will take place from Jan 19-21 in Hollywood and New York City.

Nominations for the 79th Academy Awards will be announced on Jan 23 and the ceremony will take place February 25.