Mexico's selection for the 2006 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award is the Mexican-Spanish-American co-production El laberinto del fauno / Pan's Labyrinth, a mix of politics and fantasy in which a young girl escapes from the brutal reality of the right-wing regime of Spain's General Francisco Franco by creating an imaginary world of mystery and horror. Directed and written by Guillermo del Toro, Pan's Labyrinth stars Ivana Baquero and Doug Jones.
Thailand's selection committee has chosen Pen-ek Ratanaruang's murder thriller Invisible Waves as that country's official entry. Two other Pen-ek films have been submitted for the Oscars, Monrak Transistor (2002) and Last Life in the Universe (2003). No Thailand production has ever made into the shortlist of five nominated films.
Update: Thailand picks another film for the Oscars.
Ngo Quang Hai's directorial feature-film début, Chuyen Cua Pao / Pao's Story, the tale of mountain woman who goes on a journey to find her mother, has been picked as Vietnam's official selection. Pao's Story has already won Vietnam's Golden Kite Award for Best Film, Best Actress (Do Thi Hai Yen, the director's wife), Best Supporting Actress (Nhu Quynh), and Best Cinematography.