Departures was not expected to win, owing to strong competition from the Israeli and French submissions (Ari Folman's Waltz with Bashir and Laurent Cantet's The Class, respectively), but was ultimately the victor at the February 2009 ceremony.
Departures tidak diharapkan untuk menang, karena persaingan ketat dari perwakilan Israel dan Prancis (masing-masing Waltz with Bashir karya Ari Folman dan The Class Laurent Cantet), namun rupanya malah dinyatakan menang pada acara Februari 2009.