Cannes winner misses out on Oscar

Tony Servillo won best actor at the European Film Awards for Gomorrah

Cannes Film Festival winner Gomorrah has failed to progress in the race for best foreign language film prize at the Oscars next month.

The Italian mafia movie, which won the grand prix at the French gala, is not in the Academy's nine-strong shortlist.

Golden Globe-winning Israeli animation Waltz With Bashir is joined by films from countries including Austria, Germany, Mexico and Turkey.

Five finalists will be announced at the Oscars nominations on 22 January.

Palme D'Or Winner

A total of 65 films were originally considered for selection, and whittled down by members of the Academy.

Committees in New York and Los Angeles will spend this weekend watching three of the nine finalists a day to determine the final list.

Waltz With Bashir could be in line for two major Oscar nods at the ceremony in the best foreign language and best animation categories.

At the Golden Globes earlier this week, it was named best foreign language film but did not make the animated shortlist.

The film, which recounts a soldier's experiences in 1980s Lebanon, is also up for best foreign language film at the Baftas, alongside Gomorrah.

French film The Class, which scooped the prestigious Palme D'Or at Cannes in May, is among the nine films vying for the Academy Award.

Other countries in contention for the Oscar are Japan, Sweden and Canada.

The Academy Awards ceremony takes place in Los Angeles on 22 February.