AceShowbiz - Golden Globe Awards winner "In a Better World" and Javier Bardem's "Biutiful" have been selected in the final Best Foreign Film Oscar shortlist before next week's nominations. The field has been narrowed down from 65 films to nine.

Algeria, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Spain, South Africa and Sweden are represented on the list. Films up for contention include "Simple Simon", "Hors la Loi (Outside the Law)", "Dogtooth" and "Tambien la Lluvia (Even the Rain)".

Japan's "Kokuhaku (Confessions)" is East Asia's only representative on the short-list. "We're really happy to be selected for the short-list, but now we have to hope we make the last five. It would be tough to miss out now," producer Genki Kawamura told The Hollywood Reporter. "It would be good to see at least one Asian film represented, and I definitely want to go to the Kodak Theater - I guess all we can do now is pray."