"The committee that handles foreign film nominations actually do have a more rigorous process, where people have to check in for the screenings at the Academy and verify that they've seen them all before they're allowed to vote," says Crudo.
Best foreign film nominations are Canada's Incendies, Germany's Pina, French comedy Potiche, the Golden Globe-winning Iranian film A Separation and Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live In.
If there was a surprise in the foreign-language nominations, it was the absence of "The Intouchables," the French submission.
If it wins Denmark's nomination to be put forward to the Academy award longlist, it will then have to overcome another vote, to reach the slimmed down shorlist to become the second Mikkelsen film in a row to receive a best foreign film nomination, after last year's A Royal Wedding.
This turned out to be the first time that two films with foreign-language nominations got directing nods as well.
For each, this year's ceremony is of special importance, as their countries are represented by a lifetime achievement award (being presented to Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni) and a best foreign film nomination (for Taiwan's "Eat Drink Man Woman").
One of the aides leaked 180 confidential documents to Choi, which included papers on foreign policy and nominations of top officials and cabinet members, according to prosecutors.
Among this year's most galling Oscar oversights is the absence of Hou Hsiao-hsien's The Assassin from the foreign language film nominations.
"Amour," "The Intouchables," "A Royal Affair" and "Rust and Bone" scored best foreign language film nominations, while "Bully," "The Central Park Five," "The Imposter," "The Queen of Versailles," "Searching for Sugar Man" and "West of Memphis" were nominated for best documentary feature.
"Marienbad" was denied a best foreign film Oscar nomination, though Mr. Robbe-Grillet's screenplay was nominated.
