The messiest Oscars category

The Seed of the Sacred Fig was (secretly) shot in Iran with Iranian actors and an Iranian director. But it’s Germany’s submission for Best International Film.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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An Oscars ad at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood with a portrait of Oscar host Conan O'Brien. Photo by Barbara Munker/picture alliance via Getty Images.

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