In the latest announcement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday, the shortlist of films for the upcoming Oscars in 2024 was revealed. The list encompasses 10 categories, featuring contenders in areas such as best original song, documentary feature, international feature, original score, visual effects, and sound.
Regrettably, India did not secure a spot among the 15 international features advancing to the next round. Despite submitting the Malayalam survival drama “2018: Everyone is a Hero” as its official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 96th Academy Awards, India faced disappointment as it did not make the cut. Films like Jonathan Glazer’s ‘The Zone of Interest’ (United Kingdom), Tran Anh Hung’s ‘The Taste of Things’ (France), Lila Aviles’ ‘Totem’ (Mexico), and Aki Kaurismaki’s ‘Fallen Leaves’ (Finland) emerged as frontrunners.
However, India is not completely out of the Oscar race, as the powerful documentary ‘To Kill A Tiger’ has emerged as a strong contender in the Best Documentary category. Directed by Toronto-based documentary filmmaker Nisha Pahuja, the film sheds light on the harrowing incident of the Jharkhand gangrape case, addressing the heinous crime and its aftermath. The documentary has received acclaim for its courage in tackling a challenging subject matter while advocating for awareness.
‘To Kill A Tiger’ tells the emotional journey of a father facing extraordinary circumstances after the gangrape of his 13-year-old daughter in Jharkhand. The official synopsis describes it as a story that charts a social reckoning stemming from a father’s love for his daughter, with reverberations expected for years to come.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, filmmaker Nisha Pahuja shared her joy on Instagram, calling the news “Unbelievable!” Members of the film’s team also expressed their excitement and gratitude, emphasizing the honor of being included alongside other remarkable films.
Documentaries competing for an Oscar nod include titles like ’20 Days in Mariupol’, ‘American Symphony’, ‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’, ‘Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project’, ‘The Eternal Memory’, ‘A Still Small Voice’, and ‘Four Daughters’.
Some notable omissions that surprised observers were ‘Kokomo City,’ which explores the lives of Black trans sex workers, and ‘Little Richard: I Am Everything’.
The final nominations in all categories are scheduled to be announced on January 23, 2024. The 96th Oscars award show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, is set to take place on March 10 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
