India picked Gondhal for the Oscars. So how is Naga film Angh also in the running?

In doing so, the film, shot entirely in the Konyak language, has now gained a separate route for consideration in the Best International Film category of the Academy Awards, alongside India’s official selection, the Marathi film Gondhal.

Crucially, neither of these films has been officially nominated for the 2027 Oscars in this category yet. The Academy must still review submitted films and determine whether they meet the category’s eligibility requirements.

How did two Indian language films become eligible for a shot at the Oscars? We explain.

First, what is the Best International Feature Film Oscar?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in Beverly Hills, California, defines an international feature as a feature-length film produced outside the United States, with a dialogue track more than 50 per cent in a language or languages other than English.

Unlike several other Academy Award categories, Best International Feature Film does not require a film to have been released in the United States to be eligible.

Since the 79th Academy Awards in 2006, films have also not been required to be in an official language of the country submitting them.

Traditionally, films submitted for consideration in this category are selected by each eligible country’s national selection committee recognised by the Academy. The Film Federation of India (FFI) oversees official submissions to the Academy.

So how did Angh become eligible for an Oscar in this category?

In May 2026, the Academy announced modified eligibility guidelines, including a new route for submitting films for consideration in Best International Film. Under the new guidelines, an international feature can be submitted for consideration by winning a qualifying award at any of the following international film festivals:

• The Platform Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (Canada)
• The Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival (Germany)
• Busan Award – Best Film at the Busan International Film Festival (Korea)
• Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival (France)
• World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival (USA)
• Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival (Italy)

The new Academy rule now offers a second submission route for films.

Interestingly, Angh was a film in contention for India’s official selection for Best International Film. FFI’s Chairman of the Oscar Selection Committee, K Seshadri, said Angh was among the final three films considered by the FFI alongside Gondhal and Ikkis. Angh’s victory at TIFF means it no longer has to depend on being India’s official selection selection to seek consideration from the Academy.

From longlist to nominee – the journey

Before a film in this category becomes an Oscar nominee, it must clear four stages:

Selection for consideration: Traditionally, films named for Oscar consideration in this category are selected by each country’s national selection committee. This year, the Academy also allows a film to be submitted if it wins one of six specified festival awards. The Academy then reviews submissions to determine whether they meet the category’s eligibility requirements.

Academy validation and shortlisting: Academy members across all branches can opt in to the preliminary voting round for Best International Feature Film.

Those who do must watch a minimum number of eligible submissions, as set by the Academy, before voting. They rank up to 15 films, with the 15 receiving the highest number of votes advancing to the shortlist. The voting determines which 15 films advance to the shortlist.

The Academy will announce the 15-film shortlist on December 15, 2026. Both Angh and Gondhal would have to reach this stage before advancing further.

Nomination: Films named in the shortlist now compete for one of the five nominations in this category.

In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches can opt in to participate, but must watch all 15 shortlisted films to vote. The voting determines the five nominees.

Award voting: The winner is chosen by active and life Academy members who have watched all five nominated films. The winner is then announced during the Oscars presentation ceremony.

How has India fared in this category?

Before it was renamed Best International Feature Film, the category was known as Best Foreign Language Film.

Three films submitted by India have reached the final five: Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957), Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan (2001).

The distinction between an Indian film and a film submitted by India is important here. Deepa Mehta’s Water, for instance, was directed by an Indian filmmaker but was submitted by Canada, and was a nominee in the 79th Academy Awards in 2006.

The separate shortlist stage was introduced for the 79th Academy Awards. The first shortlist contained nine films, from which the five nominees were selected. The system subsequently evolved into the 15-film shortlist used today.

Under the current 15-film shortlist system, India’s Chhello Show (Last Film Show, 2022) and Homebound (2025) have advanced to the shortlist.