LOS ANGELES, USA - A record 67 competitors have lined up for the Foreign Language Film Oscar. Academy Awards organisers announced last Friday the list of entries, which will be whittled down to five nominees, who will jostle for the statuette on Feb 22 next year.

Jordan is the only country making a debut in this year's list, with the drama Captain Abu Raed.

Asia's entries include China's Olympics documentary Dream Weavers, Hong Kong's action fantasy Painted Skin, Taiwan's rock 'n' roll romance Cape No. 7, India's dyslexia tear-jerker Taare Zameen Par and from Singapore, the father-and-son drama My Magic.

The early favourite for the honour is Italy's Gomorrah, a hard-hitting expose about the mafia.