Five of the year’s very best international films were nominated for a Foreign Language Golden Globe. Capernaum (Lebanon), Girl (Belgium), Never Look Away (Germany), Roma (Mexico) and Shoplifters (Japan) will vie for the honor in a year in which an exceptionally strong field made for a challenging decision for voters.The five nominees all come with prestigious pedigrees: Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum was a Jury Prize winner in Cannes last May, at the same festival Girl was awarded the Camera d’Or and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters took the Palme d’Or. Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma won the Golden Lion in Venice and Never Look Away also grabbed the Agiscuola award there.Above and beyond the accolades, all the films stand on their own merits as remarkable artistic accomplishments and further proof that one of the major trends (and joys) of current cinema is an even more level artistic playing field. This year’s nominations also set a few precedents. Streaming powerhouse Netflix has not one but two titles in the hunt having produced both Roma and Girl. Alfonso Cuarón’s poignant exploration of childhood and memory also made history by garnering Best Director and Best Screenplay nominations for the director – a first for a foreign language picture in the history of the Globes.All the nominees are, as they say, already winners, as are fans of world cinema. As for HFPA voters, more difficult decisions await.Read about the nominees – and some of the other exciting foreign language films of the year – in our Foreign Film Project section here.