A foreign language film has never won the movie industry's most prestigious honour, the best picture Oscar. That may be about to change, if Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron's critically-acclaimed 'Roma' scores the big win on Sunday (February 24).

International films break out of Oscars foreign category, led by 'Roma'

First, it was the furore over a proposed new "popular" film category, then it was the fiasco over planned host Kevin Hart, and last month the organisers of the Oscars were accused of intimidating celebrities not to present at rival award shows.

Fiascos and fumbles: Oscar organisers stumble to restore glory

Making an unforgettable movie is not the only requirement to win the prestigious best picture Oscar. Add millions of dollars for TV and digital ads, plus actors' travel, hair and makeup for events to promote their work on the busy film campaign trail.

Want to win an Oscar? Spend millions on the film campaign trail

Oscar-nominated short film 'Detainment' is possibly one of the most controversial films nominated for an Academy Award. The film, which reenacts the 1993 interviews of 10 year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, before they became the youngest people ever to be convicted of murder in the UK after abducting and murdering two-year-old James Bulger.

'Detainment' director addresses controversy around Oscar nomination