Oscars 2026: Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Homebound' from India gets shortlisted for the 'Best International Feature Film' category, stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Janhvi Kapoor

India’s ‘Homebound’ has advanced to the shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, the Academy announced while unveiling shortlists in 12 other categories.

These include documentary, original song, original score, cinematography, sound, visual effects, makeup and hairstyling, and the newly introduced casting category.

Overall, 15 films have moved forward from 86 eligible countries and regions.The International Feature Film shortlist showcases cinema from around the world. The selected titles are Argentina’s ‘Belén’, Brazil’s ‘The Secret Agent’, France’s ‘It Was Just an Accident’, Germany’s ‘Sound of Falling’, 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’, Tunisia’s ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, and India’s ‘Homebound’.Members of the Academy from all branches participate in the preliminary voting process, which requires viewing the eligible films. For the final nomination round, members who opt in must watch all 15 shortlisted films before casting their votes.Set in a village in northern India, ‘Homebound’ follows two childhood friends preparing for the national police examination, a career they believe will bring dignity and stability.

As they edge closer to their goal, their friendship is tested by setbacks and growing disillusionment.Explaining the inspiration behind the film, director Neeraj Ghaywan said, “Homebound started with this op-ed essay in The New York Times. It was a true story that happened in India, and it was a story of friendship and what happened to these friends during the journey [during] the pandemic… I wanted to use that as a base friendship, as a strong way to talk about our bigger concerns that the world is now grappling with, which is that what makes migrants leave their homes in rural India or across the world? What are the things that motivate them? It’s not just jobs, it’s not just money, it’s also existential.

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