Agnieszka Holland movie up for 2012 Oscar

The list of entrants comprises films from 63 countries.

In Darkness is a Holocaust drama which centres on a Polish sewer worker in Lvov who keeps a group of Jews hidden for fourteen months in the sewers under the noses of the occupying Nazi forces.

According to critics, the Polish entry is among some of the more talked about candidates for the award. Its premiere at last month’s Toronto International Film Festival was hailed as a major success.

According to Mike Goodridge, writing in Screen Daily,: "Holland does a terrific job of recreating the murky sewers, in both design and lighting, skillfully sustaining the drama even as it takes place in gloom. You can sense the stink and grime of the sewers, as the Jewish escapees battle rats, hunger, in-fighting and madness during their ordeal."

The Motion Picture Academy will narrow the list of 63 films to five nominees on 24 January.

The Oscars take place on 26 February, at a gala ceremony in Los Angeles. (mk)