The first signal of controversy at next February's Oscars is France's choice of Persepolis as its French national entry for best foreign-language film.

Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnoud's animated film draws on former's autobiographical graphic novels about a young girl growing up in Tehran, from the downfall of the Shah in 1978 through the Islamic Revolution. There was an official protest from Tehran against its inclusion in competition at Cannes this year, where it nevertheless took a prize. The Bangkok Film Festival dropped Persepolis as its opening presentation after a request from the Iranian embassy in Thailand.