LONDON, England (CNN) -- While the Oscars is without doubt the grandest of all the awards ceremonies, it doesn't have the world stage to itself. "Persepolis" won the French nomination -- but failed to make the Academy's shortlist In London, the Brits have their BAFTAs; Spain has the Goyas; and France celebrates the Cesars, where "La Vie En Rose" won six out of its "magnifique" 11 nominations. And it was this foreign fare that gave rise to the biggest controversy at Hollywood's big event. "La Vie En Rose" amassed an impressive eleven nominations at the French Cesar Awards. Marion Cotillard's astonishing transformation into Edith Piaf won her Best Actress gongs at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and the Academy Awards. But "La Vie En Rose" was not among the contenders for Best Foreign Film.
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Academy rules mean each country can only submit one film
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France dismissed "La Vie En Rose" and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
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Its choice, "Persepolis," failed to make the Oscars shortlist
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Taiwan's choice, Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution," was also blocked by the Academy
But "Persepolis" didn't sufficiently impress the Oscar judges: so @placeholder had no films among the final five nominees.