India’s entry for the Oscars, Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, has secured a place among the 15 shortlisted titles in the International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards. The movie, written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, is inspired by the true story of two young migrant workers trying to reach home during the 2020 COVID-induced lockdown. The moving account of their friendship, which was originally reported by journalist Basharat Peer, became the foundation for Ghaywan to examine, on a cinematic canvas, the fault lines in our society; the aspirations of underprivileged youths; and how hope drives sustains them even during their darkest hours.
When the Academy Award nominations will be announced on January 22, 2026, only five of the shortlisted movies will advance to the next stage. Since the shortlist features several festival favourites and auteur-driven movies, Homebound’s journey to nomination stage will be challenging. The list features some of this year’s most significant cinematic triumphs from across the world, many of which I have had access to as a voter for the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, scheduled to be held on January 11.
Belén, Argentina: A gripping legal procedural based on a true story, directed and starred by Dolores Fonzi, the movie chronicles the experience of Julieta as she is falsely accused of infanticide. It shows how Julieta’s case becomes ‘a flashpoint in the ongoing fight for women’s reproductive rights’ and how it snowballed into a movement.
A still from The Secret Agent.
The Secret Agent, Brazil: Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, this is an engaging political drama set in 1977 when the country was under dictatorship. Its lead actor Wagner Moura essays the role of a widower who returns to Recife during a carnival to be reunited with his son but encounters corruption and threat to his life. The film created waves at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year when Filho won the Best Director Award, Moura received the Best Actor Award, and the movie was awarded FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film.
A still from It Was Just an Accident.
It Was Just an Accident, France: Written and directed by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, the film, shot discreetly in Tehran, is a revenge drama that questions authoritarianism and explores moral dilemmas. The winner of Palme d’Or and multiple Golden Globes nominations, it has already established itself as one of 2025’s top films.
Sound of Falling, Germany: The Cannes jury prize winner, co-written and directed by Mascha Schilinski, follows the story of four girls — Alma (1910s), Erika (1940s), Angelika (1980s), and Lenka (2020s) — who spend their youth on the same farm in north Germany. Though separated by time, their lives mirror each other in this ambitious ensemble drama.
The President’s Cake, Iran: A socio-political drama set in the ’90s, the story revolves around Lamia, a nine-year-old schoolgirl, who is assigned to prepare a cake to celebrate Saddam Hussein’s birthday. In ‘a landscape of fear and scarcity’, the assignment turns harrowing for Lamia and her ailing grandmother. Directed by Hasan Hadi, ‘The President’s Cake’ became the first Iraqi production to be shortlisted for an Academy Award. It was also winner of the audience award as well as Camera d’Or for Best Debut Feature.
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Kokuho, Japan: One of the visually-stunning movies of this year, Japan’s Oscar entry is also its highest-grossing live action movie ever. The epic drama, directed by Sang-il Lee, opens in the 60s’ Nagasaki when the son of a slain yakuza boss is taken in by a Kabuki master and raised alongside his son. Over five tumultuous decades, Kokuho follows the friendship and rivalry of the two Kabuki theatre actors, played by Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama, in this aesthetically-rich tale.
All That’s Left of You, Jordan: Premiered at Sundance Film Festival, this is the story of a Palestinian teenager who is swept into the protests in the Occupied West Bank of the 1980s, which changes the course of his family’s life. His mother recounts what led them to that fateful moment in this story of intergenerational trauma, spanning seven decades. The epic drama, written and directed by Cherien Dabis, traces the ‘hopes and heartaches of one uprooted family’.
A still from Sentimental Value.
Sentimental Value, Norway: Acclaimed filmmaker Joachim Trier reunites with Renate Reinsve after the much talked-about The Worst Person in the World (2021). The movie, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes, is a nuanced exploration of the father-daughter relationship haunted by the past. It also features powerful performances by Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas.
Palestine 36, Palestine: Using rare archival footage, this historical film charts the lives and ambitions of those living under British rule. As Palestinian villages revolt against British colonial rule, the movie focuses on Yusuf who navigates between Jerusalem and his rural home. Directed by Annemarie Jacir, Palestine 36 is set in the 1930s.
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No Other Choice, South Korea: Prominent director Park Chan-wook’s latest movie is a dark comedy about a man whose happy family life is disrupted when he loses his job abruptly after working in the same company for 25 years dedicatedly. The film, which features compelling performances by Lee Byung Hun Son Yejin, is considered to be one of the top contenders.
A still from Sirât.
Sirât, Spain: Directed by Oliver Laxe, this is a moving story of a father who arrives with his young son in the Moroccan desert looking for his missing daughter, who is entangled in the local rave culture. What makes this genre-defying movie engrossing is the use of sound, cinematography and a refreshing vision.
Late Shift, Switzerland: Powered by actor Leonie Benesch, director Petra Volpe’s tense drama is how Floria, a dedicated nurse, ‘navigates the relentless pace of her hospital’s understaffed surgical ward with humanity and warmth’.
Left-Handed Girl, Taiwan: A story of women and resilience, it shows a single mother and her two daughters who relocate to Taipei to open a night market stall. Directed by Shih-Ching Tsou, the film is co-written and produced by Oscar-winner Sean Baker. Shot on an iPhone, it has a palpable raw, realistic indie vibe.
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The Voice of Hind Rajab, Tunisia: On January 29, 2024, Red Crescent volunteers received a call from a six-year-old girl, who was trapped in a car under Israeli military fire. Even as the volunteers work on procuring military and governmental approvals to get an ambulance to rescue her, they try to keep Hind, who is alone and scared, on the line. Director Kaouther Ben Hania reconstructs the entire incident in Gaza with actual recordings and scripted performances.
The author is a voter for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes.
7 min read
A still from The Secret Agent.
A still from It Was Just an Accident.
A still from Sentimental Value.
A still from No Other Choice.
A still from Sirât.
