Each year the Hollywood Foreign Press Association awards the Golden Globe in the Foreign Language Film category. To qualify, a film must be a motion picture drama, musical or comedy with at least 51% of the dialogue spoken in a non-English language. Documentaries are not eligible. Animated films – including foreign language ones – are considered in the Animation category.  
Normally, in order to qualify, a foreign language films must have been released in their country of origin during the prior 15-month period, from October 1 to December 31 before the awards. This year, in light of the disruption caused by the pandemic, several changes were made to the qualification rules.
To be eligible this year a foreign language film had to be commercially released in any country (not limited to the country of origin) and on any format, including theatrical, TV, VOD, streaming platforms and DVD. Qualifying release dates this year must fall within October 1, 2019 and February 28, 2021.
This year an unprecedented 139 Foreign Language Films were eligible for Golden Globe consideration from 77 countries (of which 37 directed or co-directed by women). Different from the Academy Awards rules, the HFPA does not limit submissions to one per country – multiple submissions from any country are allowed as long as the films follow the qualification requirements.
Due to distancing protocols, most of this year’s submissions have been viewed via digital links in lieu of physical screenings, with the coordination of the Foreign Language Committee. As usual, that has made for an intense viewing schedule … as well as for one of the greatest privileges of the year.
This annual series covers eligible films.