For the 23rd consecutive year, India recognized as the leading producer of films globally, will not have a representation in the Oscars' Best International Feature Film category. Throughout these years, numerous independent Indian films have garnered accolades in the documentary feature and short film categories, bringing pride to the nation. However, the 'official' submissions from India for feature films have consistently failed to receive nominations. Similar to the recent withdrawal of Laapataa Ladies, this situation has often been accompanied by controversy.

What is the deal with an 'official' entry to the Oscars?

The category of Best International Feature Film, previously known as Best Foreign Film, recognizes non-English-language films produced outside the United States and released during the award year. To facilitate this process, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which oversees the Oscars, designates an organization in each country to determine that nation's official entry. In India, this responsibility has been entrusted to the Film Federation of India (FFI), a role it has fulfilled for many years.

What is the Film Federation of India?

The Film Federation of India is an organization comprising film producers, distributors, and exhibitors from across the nation, boasting approximately 50,000 members representing various segments of the film industry. Based in Mumbai, the FFI undertakes responsibilities beyond merely designating India's official entry for the Oscars; it also advocates for the rights of technicians and artists. Prominent figures in the film industry, such as Mehboob Khan, GP Sippy, and J Om Prakash, have previously held the position of president within the federation. Each year, the organization establishes a selection committee tasked with choosing India's official Oscar submission. For this year, Laapataa Ladies was chosen from a shortlist of nearly 30 films, which included titles such as Animal and All We Imagine as Light.

Can there be more than one film from a country?

A nation is permitted to submit only one 'official' entry to the Oscars; however, the Academy also accepts independent submissions for other categories. Filmmakers may present their works—provided they meet eligibility criteria—as independent entries. It is important to note that these films cannot compete in the Best International Feature Film category.

A prominent instance of this occurred in 2022 when Chhello Show was designated as India's official entry by the Film Federation of India (FFI). Concurrently, SS Rajamouli's RRR and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi were submitted as independent entries across various other categories. Furthermore, if a film is co-produced with a company from another nation, it may be submitted as an official entry from that country. This scenario has notably transpired on two occasions. This year, Sandhya Suri's Hindi film Santosh was submitted as the UK's official entry and successfully reached the shortlist. Similarly, in 2005, Deepa Mehta's Water represented Canada as its official entry and received a nomination, ultimately losing to the German film The Lives of Others.

What happens after the submission

Once the submissions are received by the Academy, a 30-member International Feature Film Preliminary Committee reviews the films and compiles a shortlist of 15 titles, typically in December. Subsequently, English-subtitled versions of all submitted films are evaluated by the Foreign Language Film Award Committee, which determines the five nominees to be revealed in January. To date, only three Indian films have received nominations: Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay (1988), and Lagaan (2001). Notably, no Indian film has secured a win in this category.

Read Also: Taylor Swift and Kelce: Engagement Rumors Sparked by Brittany Mahomes' Party Photos

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!