A shortlist of up to six films is made by the UK's leading critics, film-school heads and festival directors from the foreign language films released in that year in the UK.
The winner is selected by a panel of judges whose decision making process is screened as part of the award ceremony, screened live on BBC Four, and since the beginning hosted by Jonathan Ross.
2008 was its seventh year, with the BBC Four World Cinema Award ceremony hosted by Jonathan Ross from the BFI Southbank in London.
The winner of the 2008 award was announced on 30 January 2008, and the event was broadcast on BBC Four on 2 February 2008.
The 2009 award ceremony took place on 27 January 2009, again at the BFI Southbank.