This year, 105 films have been submitted in the category. That is significantly more than in 2020, when the previous record was set at 93 films.
The entries include films from countries that have never competed before, such as Cyprus, El Salvador and Rwanda. But the record is also due to the Academy changing the rule that only one film per country can compete. Now, films that win top prizes at the Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto and Busan film festivals, as well as at Sundance, are also eligible, which could mean more films from the same country competing in the category.