No French film on Oscars list

THE FRENCH cinema industry has been handed disappointing news after it emerged that no French film had qualified for the 2014 Oscars.

Last summer's Palme d'Or winner at Cannes, La Vie d'Adèle (or Blue is the Warmest Colour) by Abdellatif Kéchiche failed to be put forward by the French selection committee for the shortlist in the best foreign language film category because its release date was too late.

The Renoir biopic by Gilles Bourdos was instead selected to represent France, but failed to make the final list of nine.

Films from Beglium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy and Palestine are in the running for the foreign language award.

The awards ceremony takes place on March 2.