“Homebound,” : India’s Oscar submission, moves on to the next stage of voting at the 2026 Academy Awards

“Homebound” : moved on to the next round of voting in the Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category, bringing Indian film back into the limelight.

Fifteen international films have advanced to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category, according to the Academy. Alongside entries from Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Norway, Palestine, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Tunisia is India’s “Homebound.”

Belen (Argentina), The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sound of Falling (Germany), The President’s Cake (Iraq), Kokuho (Japan), All That’s Left of You (Jordan), Sentimental Value (Norway), Palestine 36 (Palestine), No Other Choice (South Korea), Sirat (Spain), Late Shift (Switzerland), Left-Handed Girl (Taiwan), and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia) are among the other films on the shortlist.

The Academy’s official social media account announced the news, writing, “Fifteen films in the International Feature Film category advanced to the next round of voting.” On the map, here is where they land.

On Thursday, January 22, the Academy Awards’ final nominees will be revealed.With debuts at the esteemed Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and Melbourne International Film Festival, “Homebound” has garnered much international praise.

‘Homebound’ just made the Academy Awards shortlist for Best International Feature Film, marking a unique milestone as the fifth Indian film to do so in the 98-year history of the awards.

“Homebound,” starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, has been chosen as one of the 15 films that will be eligible for the final nominations in the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars.

Ishaan posted the happy moment on his Instagram stories.For the nation’s film industry, Homebound’s presence on the esteemed shortlist is a momentous occasion.In the 98th Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category, 15 films will go on to the next round of voting. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ (AMPAS) website, films from 86 nations or regions qualified for the category.With Janhvi Kapoor lending emotional depth to a tale rooted in friendship, responsibility, and the challenges confronting young India, Homebound follows childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), whose common desire of joining the police force changes their lives.

The film, which was directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, was co-produced by Marijke deSouza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier, produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta, and executive produced by Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar.