Noted Assamese filmmaker Rima Das’s Village Rockstars, which was India’s official entry to the Oscars, did not make it to the final shortlist.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday announced that nine films have advanced to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 91st Academy Awards.
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Set in Das’ own village Chhaygaon in Assam, “Village Rockstars” is the story of “poor but amazing children” who live a fun-filled life.
Iram Haq’s Norwegian drama “What Will People Say”, starring Indian actors which was also in the run for the same category failed to make the final shortlist.
So far, “Mother India”, “Salaam Bombay!” and “Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India” are the only Indian films that made it to the top five in the Best Foreign language Film category at the Academy Awards, but none have won the honour.
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Hopes were also pinned on “What Will People Say”, which stars Indian actors Adil Hussain and Ekavali Khanna. It is set in Pakistan and Norway and traces how a Pakistani immigrant family deals with its teenage daughter’s affair with a local boy in Norway.
A total of 87 films had originally been considered in the Foreign Language Film category. Among the shortlisted ones are “Birds of Passage” (Colombia), “The Guilty” (Denmark), “Never Look Away” (Germany), “Shoplifters” (Japan), “Ayka” (Kazakhstan), “Capernaum” (Lebanon), “Roma” (Mexico), “Cold War” (Poland) and “Burning” (South Korea), reports The Assam Tribune.
Nominations for the 91st Oscars will be announced on January 22, 2019, over a month ahead of the Oscars ceremony which is slated to be held on February 24, 2019.