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India’s film Homebound has progressed closer to the Academy Awards as it has been included in the list of 15 films shortlisted for the International Feature Film category, putting it in the running for a nomination at the 97th Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the shortlist, marking an important moment for the Indian entry as it moves to the next phase of voting. The International Feature Film category started with entries from many nations, each allowed to submit one official choice. After the first round of screenings and voting, the Academy has now selected 15 films that represent a diverse range of geographical and cultural backgrounds. India’s Homebound is included with films from Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia, highlighting the tough competition in this category.
For India, Homebound's place on the shortlist is an important milestone in a section where the competition has grown stronger in recent years. While Indian movies have often gained interest at international festivals, achieving an Academy Award nomination has been challenging. Being on the shortlist does not ensure a nomination, but it greatly enhances a film’s visibility during awards time. Academy members will now move on to the next voting round, which will finalize the top five nominees. Recently, films on the shortlist have frequently gained from renewed international distribution agreements, more screenings at festivals, and wider critical conversations, even if they do not end up getting a nomination.
The Oscars shortlist also reflects the Academy's ongoing effort to broaden its focus, including more films from countries that have traditionally been less represented in this category. This wider variety has helped improve the status of the International Feature Film award and attracted more public attention to the announcements of the shortlist. Homebound's current position is close to the final nominations, which will be revealed on Thursday, January 22. The 2026 Academy Awards will take place on March 15.
The shortlisted films are: Argentina’s ‘Belén’, Brazil’s ‘The Secret Agent’, France’s ‘It Was Just an Accident’, Germany’s ‘Sound of Falling’, India’s ‘Homebound’, Iraq’s ‘The President’s Cake’, Japan’s ‘Kokuho’, Jordan’s ‘All That’s Left of You’, Norway’s ‘Sentimental Value’, Palestine’s ‘Palestine 36’, South Korea’s ‘No Other Choice’, Spain’s ‘Sirât’, Switzerland’s ‘Late Shift’, Taiwan’s ‘Left-Handed Girl’ and Tunisia’s ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’.
