India has made a strong mark on the global cinema stage as Homebound secured a place on the prestigious shortlist for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the shortlist while also announcing contenders across 12 additional categories, including documentary, original song, original score, cinematography, sound, visual effects, makeup and hairstyling, and the newly introduced casting award.
The International Feature Film shortlist features 15 films selected from 86 submissions representing countries and regions across the world. The lineup highlights the diversity of contemporary global storytelling, with entries spanning multiple continents and cultures. Alongside Homebound, the shortlist includes 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, and Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab.
As per Academy guidelines, members from all branches participate in the initial voting round, during which they must view the eligible films. For the final nominations, voters who opt into the category are required to watch all 15 shortlisted titles before submitting their votes, ensuring a thorough and informed evaluation process.
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, Homebound is set in a small village in northern India and centers on two childhood friends bound by shared dreams and circumstances. Both aspire to clear the highly competitive national police examination, viewing the profession as a pathway to dignity, respect, and financial security. However, as they inch closer to their goal, the strain of repeated failures, social pressures, and personal disappointments begins to test their once-unbreakable bond.
The film offers a poignant look at how ambition and hope can collide with harsh realities in a rapidly changing society. Ghaywan has revealed that the story was inspired by a real-life incident he encountered through an op-ed published in The New York Times. The events unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted themes of friendship, survival, and loss amid widespread uncertainty.
“At its heart, Homebound explores what compels people to leave their homes,” Ghaywan explained. “It’s not just about jobs or money—it’s also about dignity, identity, and existential longing.” Through its intimate portrayal of rural life, the film speaks to universal experiences of migration, belonging, and the emotional cost of chasing stability in an unequal world.