Homebound, India’s official entry to the Oscars, has been named among the 15 shortlisted titles in the Best International Feature Film category. The Neeraj Ghaywan directorial has moved a step closer to securing an Academy Award nomination after advancing to the next stage of voting.
Following the initial round, the Academy has narrowed the field to 15 films representing a wide geographical spread from across the world. While making the shortlist does not guarantee a final nomination, it marks a significant milestone and brings Homebound one step closer to an Oscar nomination. The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor in key roles.
Some of the other shortlisted films are Argentina’s Belén, Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Palestine’s Palestine 36, and South Korea’s No Other Choice, among others. The nominations will be announced on January 22.
Meanwhile, Subodh Khanolkar’s film Dashavatar has entered the Oscars contention list, making it the first Marathi film to achieve this feat. Zee Studios Official made the announcement and wrote, “First Marathi Film to Enter the Oscar Contention List. Born of red soil. Carried by tradition. Now global. Dashavatar is heading towards the Oscars.”
What Is the List of Contention?
The List of Contention refers to the initial eligibility stage of the Oscars. At this stage, filmmakers who meet the Academy’s criteria can submit their films for consideration across various categories. However, a film being in contention is not the same as being a country’s official entry to the Academy Awards.
While Homebound remains India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category, Dashavatar was independently submitted after meeting the eligibility requirements under the Academy’s general categories.
To qualify under these general categories, a film must meet specific rules. It must have a runtime of more than 40 minutes and complete a minimum qualifying theatrical run of seven consecutive days at the same venue. Additionally, the film must be screened in a commercial motion picture theatre in at least one of six designated US metropolitan areas.
Once a film qualifies and enters the list, the makers are given a month to campaign for nominations. This is what happened with SS Rajamouli’s RRR as well. While it was not India’s official Oscars entry that year, the filmmaker independently submitted the film for consideration across 14 categories. And it won an Oscar for the Best Original Song category for Naatu Naatu.
Also Read: Karan Johar Celebrates Homebound Oscar Shortlist And Expresses Gratitude To The Team
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